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HYMNS    OF    TER    STEEGEN 
SUSO   AND   OTHERS 


HYMNS    OF 
TER     STEEGEN 

SUSO  AND  OTHERS 


BY 

FRANCES  BEVAN 


FIRST  SERIES 


LOIZEAUX    BROTHERS 

BIBLE  TRUTH   DEPOT,    i    EAST   13TH  STREET 

NEW    YORK 


PREFACE 

The  following  Hymns,  reprinted  from  the 
Sketches  of  the  "Friends  of  God/'  of  "The 
Quiet  in  the  Land,"  and  from  the  collection, 
now  out  of  print,  called  "  Service  of  Song," 
are  sent  forth  in  a  separate  form,  in  answer 
to  the  requests  of  many  who  are  unac- 
quainted with  the  language  of  the  German 
authors,  Gerhardt  Ter  Steegen  and  Heinrich 
Suso.  For  German  readers,  the  hymns  of 
Ter  Steegen  can  be  found  in  full  (the  trans- 
lations being  occasionally  curtailed)  in  the 
"  Blumen-Gartlein  "  of  Gerhardt  Ter  Steegen. 
May  they  serve  to  lead  some  souls  into  the 
Land  of  Rest. 

F.  R 

1894. 


CONTENTS 


THE   ROYAL   PRIESTHOOD 

THE   TASK. 

OIL  AND   WINE  . 

PILGRIM  SONG      . 

THE   BLESSED   JOURNEY 

THE  HOME 

THE   HERMIT'S    CELL 

THE   HIGH   CALLING 

AT   REST     . 

THR   QUIET    LAND 

THE   INHERITANCE 

THE  FAR   AND    NEAR 

THE  SHADOW   OF   HIS   WINGS 

AT  LAST  !  . 

THE  NAME  ABOVE  EVERY  NAME 

WITH  HIM,  ALL  THINGS 

THE  ARK  OF  GOD 

WHITER  THAN    SNOW  . 

WITHIN    THE   HOLIEST. 

TMM   HABITATION   OF   GOD 


SO 

ft 
ftft 


viii 


CONTENTS 


"THB   BUN   TO   RULB   BY   DAT"      . 

BREAD   THAT   8TRENGTHENETH   MAN'S   HEART 

THB   SXN-OFFERINa        .  . 

PILGRIM   SONG     . 

ALL   MANNER   OF   PRECIOUS   STONES 

THE    SCHOOL 

THE   SABBATH    TEAR    , 

NO   MORE   . 

THB  OPENED  BTES   . 

THB  CLOISTBR  GARDEN 

THE  SUMMER  DAT 

THE  LAND  OF  REST  • 

FOUND 

THB   RIVER   OF   GOD      • 

WITHIN   THE   VEIL 

EVENSONG  .  • 

THE  JOTFUL  SOUND  . 

THE  GRBAT  HIGH  PRIEST 

MT  GOD   . 

IN   THB   GARDEN    OF   GOD 

THE    CHASE 

THE   FINDING       . 

THE    KNIGHT   OF   GOD. 

THE   MAT   . 

THE   NIGHT    WATOH       • 

THB   MEETING      . 


CONTENTS 


IX 


THE   THIRST   OP   GOD   .  .  , 

"THB   MARKS   OF   THE   LORD   JESU8 

THE   NEW   SONG  . 

THE   DANOE 

"OUT   OF   THE   DEPTHS  n 

"i   AM    NOT" 

THE   MASTER'S   HAND    , 

THE   VESSEL   OF   WROUGHT   GOLD 

COMPANIONSHIP  . 

MY    WELCOME       . 

"IT  IS  finished"      . 

"BEYOND   THE   BRIGHTNESS    OF   THE   SUN 

EMMANUEL'S   LAND 

THE  BRIDE 

AMBASSADORS   FOR   CHRIST 

THE   PARADISE   OF   GOD 

THE   OUTCAST 

"BANDS   OF   LOVE"      . 

THE   SECRET   OF   THE    LORD 

RIVERS   IN   THE   DESERT 

TO-MORBOW 

BROUGHT   NIGH  . 

THE    INNER   CHAMBER 

LIGHT   OF    A   STONE   MOST   PRECIOUS 

THE   BORDER   OF   HIS   SANCTUARY 

THB   DIVINE   LOVE  *  » 


CONTENTS 


THE    EVANGELIST 

A   LIGHT   TO    LIGHTEN    THE   GENTILES 

THE    LAST    KNOCK 

"  THY    FOOTSTEPS    ARE   NOT    KNOWNM 

THE   JOT    THAT   WAS   BET   BEFORE    HIM 

CHILDHOOD 

THE   CLOVEN    ROOK       . 

SLEEPING  AND    WAKING 

THE   SECRET    OF   HIS    PAVILION 

THE   GOSPEL   ACCORDING   TO   PAUL 

THE   SONG   OF   CHRIST 

THE   SHEPHERD'S   VOICE 

THE   WAYSIDE    FEAST. 

HIS   DWELLING-PLACE 

A   SONG       . 

THE  END  OF  THE  JOURNEY 

JESUS     .     .     .     . 

THE   LAST   WATCH    OF   THE    NIGHT 

CITIZENS   OF   HEAVEN  .  .  • 


FAOl 
123 

126 

129 

133 
135 
137 
139 
140 
142 
144 
I46 

U7 
149 

*5° 
'Si 
153 
iS4 
156 


HYMNS 

THE  ROYAL  PRIESTHOOD 
Jer.  xxxiii.  18;  Rev.  i.  6. 

The  race  of  God's  anointed  priests  shall  never 

pass  away ; 
Before  His  glorious  Face  they  stand,  and 

serve  Him  night  and  day. 
Though  reason  raves,  and  unbelief  flows  on, 

a  mighty  flood, 
There  are,  and  shall  be,  till  the  end,  the 

hidden  priests  of  God. 
His  chosen  souls,  their  earthly  dross  con- 
sumed in  sacred  fire, 
To  God's  own  heart  their  hearts  ascend  in 

flame  of  deep  desire ; 
The  incense  of  their  worship  fills  His  Temples 

holiest  place  ; 
Their  song  with  wonder  fills  the  Heavens, 

the  glad  new  song  of  grace. 

A 


2  OIL   AND    WINE 

THE   TASK 

Phil.  iii.  7. 

To  learn,  and  yet  to  learn,  whilst  life  goes  by, 

So  pass  the  student's  days ; 
And  thus  be  great,  and  do  great  things,  and 
die, 

And  lie  embalmed  with  praise. 

My  work  is  but  to  lose  and  to  forget, 

Thus  small,  despised  to  be  ; 
All  to  unlearn — this  task  before  me  set ; 

Unlearn  all  else  but  Thee. 

a.  t.  s. 


OIL  AND  WINE 

Is.  XXXV.  10. 

There  is  a  balm  for  every  pain, 

A  medicine  for  all  sorrow ; 
The  eye  turned  backward  to  the  Cross, 

And  forward  to  the  morrow. 


PILGRIM   SONG  3 

The  morrow  of  the  glory  and  the  psalm, 

When  He  shall  come ; 
The  morrow  of  the  harping  and  the  palm, 

The  welcome  home. 
Meantime    in    His    beloved    hands    our 

ways, 
And  on  His  Heart  the  wandering  heart 

at  rest ; 
And  comfort  for  the  weary  one  who  lays 
His  head  upon  His  Breast. 

g.  t.  s. 


PILGRIM  SONG 
Deut.  xxxi.  8. 

On,  O  beloved  children, 

The  evening  is  at  hand, 
And  desolate  and  fearful 

The  solitary  land. 
Take  heart !  the  rest  eternal 

Awaits  our  weary  feet ; 
From   strength  to*  strength   press 
onwards, 

The  end,  how  passing  sweet ! 


PILGRIM   SONG 

Lo,  we  can  tread  rejoicing 

The  narrow  pilgrim  road ; 
We  know  the  voice  that  calls  us, 

We  know  our  faithful  God. 
Come,  children,  on  to  glory ! 

With  every  face  set  fast 
Towards  the  golden  towers 

Where  we  shall  rest  at  last. 

It  was  with  voice  of  singing 

We  left  the  land  of  night, 
To  pass  in  glorious  music 

Far  onward  out  of  sight. 
0  children,  was  it  sorrow  ? 

Though  thousand  worlds  be  lost 
Our  eyes  have  looked  on  Jesus, 

And  thus  we  count  the  cost. 

The  praising  and  the  blaming, 

The  storehouse  and  the  mart, 
The  mourning  and  the  feasting, 

The  glory  and  the  art, 
The  wisdom  and  the  cunning, 

Left  far  amid  the  gloom ; 
We  may  not  look  behind  us, 

For  we  are  going  home. 


PILGRIM   SONG 

Across  the  will  of  nature 

Leads  on  the  path  of  God ; 
Not  where  the  flesh  delighteth 

The  feet  of  Jesus  trod. 
0  bliss  to  leave  behind  us 

The  fetters  of  the  slave, 
To  leave  ourselves  behind  us, 

The  grave-clothes  and  the  grave  I 

To  speed,  unburdened  pilgrims, 

Glad,  empty-handed,  free ; 
To  cross  the  trackless  deserts, 

And  walk  upon  the  sea ; 
As  strangers  among  strangers, 

No  home  beneath  the  sun ; 
How  soon  the  wanderings  ended; 

The  endless  rest  begun  I 

We  pass  the  children  playing, 

For  evening  shades  fall  fast ; 
We  pass  the' wayside  flowers — 

God's  Paradise  at  last ! 
If  now  the  path  be  narrow 

And  steep  and  rough  and  lone, 
If  crags  and  tangles  cross  it, 

Praise  God  I  we  will  go  on. 


THE   BLESSED  JOURNEY 

We  follow  in  His  footsteps ; 

What  if  our  feet  be  torn  ? 
Where  He  has  marked  the  pathway 

All  hail  the  briar  and  thorn  I 
Scarce  seen,  scarce  heard,  unreckoned, 

Despised,  defamed,  unknown, 
Or  heard  but  by  our  singing, 

On,  children  1  ever  on !  0.  t,  a, 


THE  BLESSED  JOURNEY 
Is.  xlii.  16. 

Let  Him  lead  thee  blindfold  onwards, 

Love  needs  not  to  know ; 
Children  whom  the  Father  leadeth 

Ask  not  where  they  go. 
Though  the  path  be  all  unknown, 
Over  moors  and  mountains  lone. 

Give  no  ear  to  reason's  questions ; 

Let  the  blind  man  hold 
That  the  sun  is  but  a  fable 

Men  believed  of  old, 
At  the  breast  the  babe  will  grow ; 
Whence  the  milk  he  need  not  know. 

G.  T.  8. 


THE   HOME  f 

THE    HOME 
Luke  xv.  23,  24. 

Thou  who  givest  of  Thy  gladness 
Till  the  cup  runs  o'er — 

Cup  whereof  the  pilgrim  weary- 
Drinks  to  thirst  no  more — 

Not  a-nigh  me,  but  within  me 
Is  Thy  joy  divine ; 

Thou,  O  Lord,  hast  made  Thy  dwelling 
In  this  heart  of  mine. 

Need  I  that  a  law  should  bind  me 

Captive  unto  Thee  ? 
Captive  is  my  heart,  rejoicing 

Never  to  be  free. 
Ever  with  me,  glorious,  awful, 

Tender,  passing  sweet, 
One  upon  whose  heart  I  rest  me, 

Worship  at  His  Feet. 

With  me,  wheresoever  I  wander, 

That  great  Presence  goes, 
That  unutterable  gladness, 

Undisturbed  repose. 


8  THE   HERMIT  S   CELL 

Everywhere  the  blessed  stillness 

Of  His  Holy  Place- 
Stillness  of  the  love  that  worships 

Dumb  before  His  Face.  * 

To  Thy  house,  0  God  my  Father, 

Thy  lost  child  is  come ; 
Led  by  wandering  lights  no  longer, 

I  have  found  my  home. 
Over  moor  and  fen  I  tracked  them 

Through  the  midnight  blast, 
But  to  find  the  Light  eternal 

In  my  heart  at  last. 

a.  t,  g 

THE  HERMITS  CELL 

i  John  iv.  16. 

"  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation : f 
Lord  Jesus,  Thou  saidst  it  of  old. 

There  dark  are  the  desolate  mountains, 
The  night  winds  are  cold. 

But  safe  from  the  storm  and  the  tempest 

My  soul  hath  a  cell ; 
There  ever,  beside  the  still  waters, 

With  Jesus  I  dwell. 


THE   HIGH   CALLING  9 

There,    hushed    from    the     strife    and    the 
sorrow, 

Alone  and  apart, 
In  chambers  of  peace  and  of  stillness — 
That  Home  is  His  Heart. 

o.  t.  a. 


THE  HIGH  CALLING 
Ps.  xlv.  9. 

Child  of  the  Eternal  Father, 

Bride  of  the  Eternal  Son, 
Dwelling-place  of  God  the  Spirit, 

Thus  with  Christ  made  ever  one ; 
Dowered  with  joy  beyond  the  Angels 

Nearest  to  His  throne, 
They,  the  ministers  attending 

His  beloved  one : 
Granted  all  my  heart's  desire, 

All  things  made  my  own ; 
Feared  by  all  the  powers  of  evil, 

Fearing  God  alone ; 
Walking  with  the  Lord  in  glory 

Through  the  courts  divine, 


10  AT   REST 

Queen  within  the  royal  palace, 

Christ  for  ever  mine  ; 
Say,  poor  worldling,  can  it  be, 
That  my  heart  should  envy  thee  ? 

a.  t.  ». 


A  T   REST 
Is.  xl.  II. 

0  God,  a  world  of  empty  show, 

Dark  wilds  of  restless,  fruitless  quest 

Lie  round  me  wheresoe'er  I  go  : 
Within,  with  Thee,  is  rest. 

And  sated  with  the  weary  sum 

Of  all  men  think,  and  hear,  and  see, 

O  more  than  mother's  heart,  I  come, 
A  tirdd  child  to  Thee. 

Sweet  childhood  of  eternal  life ! 

Whilst  troubled  days  and  years  go  by, 
In  stillness  hushed  from  stir  and  strife, 

Within  Thine  Arms  I  lie. 


(THE   QUIET   LAND  II 

Thine  Arms,  to  whom  I  turn  and  cling 
With  thirsting  soul  that  longs  for  Thee ; 

As  rain  that  makes  the  pastures  sing, 
Art  Thou,  my  God,  to  ma 

G.  T.  8. 


THE  QUIET  LAND 
Deut.  xxvi.  9. 

Stillness  midst  the  ever-changing, 

Lord,  my  rest  art  Thou  ; 
So  for  me  has  dawned  the  morning, 

Gods  eternal  NOW. 
Now  for  me  the  day  unsetting, 

Now  the  song  begun ; 
Now,  the  deep  surpassing  glory, 

Brighter  than  the  sun. 
Hail !  all  hail !  thou  peaceful  country 

Of  eternal  calm ; 
Summer  land  of  milk  and  honey, 

Where  the  streams  are  balm. 
There  the  Lord  my  Shepherd  leads  me, 

Wheresoever  He  will ; 
In  the  fresh  green  pastures  feeds  me, 

By  the  waters  still. 


12  THE    INHERITANCE 

Well  I  know  them,  those  still  waters 

Peace  and  rest  at  last ; 
In  their  depths  the  quiet  heavens 

Tell  the  storms  are  past, 
Nought  to  mar  the  picture  fair, 
Of  the  glory  resting  there. 

G.  T.  8 


THE  INHERITANCE 

Deut.  xviii.  i,  2. 

Am  I   not   enough,    Mine   own?  enough. 

Mine  own,  for  thee  ? 
Hath  the  world  its  palace  towers, 
Garden  glades  of  magic  flowers, 
Where  thou  fain  wouldst  be  ? 
Fair  things  and  false  are  there, 
False  things  but  fair. 
All  shalt  thou  find  at  last, 
Only  in  Me. 
Am  I  not  enough,  Mine  own  ?  I,  for  ever 
and  alone,  I,  needing  thee? 

g.  t.  s. 


THE    FAR    AND   NEAR  1 3 


THE  FAR  AND  NEAR 
Ps.  lxi.  4. 

In  Him  we  live,  in  Him  we  move ;  seek  not 

thy  God  afar ; 
He  is  not  prisoned  in  a  height  above  sun, 

moon,  and  star. 
But  thou  through  strange  dark  lands  hast 

strayed,  and  wandered  far  from  Him ; 
And  therefore  He,  O  Soul,  to  thee,  is  distant 

and  is  dim. 
Lord,  I  was  in  the  far-off  land,  I  loved  from 

Thee  to  stray, 
And  when  unto  myself  I  came,  a  swine-herd 

far  away, 
One  moment — then  the  welcome  sweet,  the 

kiss,  the  Father's  Home ; 
Far  distant  was  the  distance ;  to  Thy  bosom 

I  am  come. 

a.  t.  s. 


14  THE   SHADOW   OF   HI8    WINGS 

THE  SHADOW  OF  HIS   WINGS 
Ps.  iv.  8. 

The  evening  comes,  the  sun  is  sunk  and  gone, 
And  all  things  lie  in  stillness  and  in  rest ; 

And  thou,  my  soul,  for  thee  one  rest  alone 
Remaineth  ever,  on  the  Father's  breast. 

The  wanderer  rests  at  last  each  weary  limb ; 

Birds  to  their  nests  return  from  heath  and 

hill; 

The  sheep  are  gathered  from  the  pastures 

dim — 

In  Thee,  my  God,  my  restless  heart  is  still. 

Lord,  gather  from  the  regions  dim  and  far 
Desires  and  thoughts  that  wandered  far 
from  Thee ; 

To  home  and  rest  lead  on,  O  guiding  Star, 
No  other  home  or  nest  but  God  for  me. 

The  daily  toil  of  this  worn  body  done, 
The  spirit  for  untiring  work  is  strong ; 

Still  hours  of  worship  and  of  love  begun, 
Of  blessed  vision  and  eternal  song. 


AT   LAST  15 

In  darkness  and  in  silence  still  and  sweet, 
With   blessed   awe  my  spirit   feels  Thee 
near; 
Within  the  Holiest,  worships  at  Thy  feet : 
Speak  Thou,  and   silence  all  my  soul  to 
hear. 

To  Thee  my  heart  as  incense  shall  arise ; 

Consumed  upon  Thine  altar  all  my  will ; 
Love,  praise,  and  peace,  an  evening  sacrifice, 

And  in  the  Lord  I  rest,  and  I  am  still. 

g.  t.  s. 


A  T  LAST/ 

,  Ps.  lxxxiv.  4. 

Draw  me  to  Thee,  till  far  within  Thy  rest, 
In    stillness    of    Thy  peace,    Thy   voice    I 

hear — 
For  ever  quieted  upon  Thy  breast, 

So  loved,  so  near. 
By  mystery  of  Thy  touch  my  spirit  thrilled, 

0  Magnet  all  Divine ; 
The  hunger  of  my  soul  for  ever  stilled, 

For  Thou  art  mine. 


1 6  AT    LAST 

For  me,  0  Lord,  the  world  is  all  too  small, 

For  I  have  seen  Thy  face, 
Where  Thine  eternal  love  irradiates  all 

Within  Thy  secret  place. 
And  therefore  from  all  others,  from  all  else, 

Draw  Thou  my  soul  to  Thee  .  .  . 
.  .  .  Yea — Thou  hast  broken  the  enchanter's 
spells, 

And  I  am  free. 
Now  in  the  haven  of  untroubled  rest 

I  land  at  last, 
The  hunger,  and  the  thirst,  and  weary  quest 

For  ever  past. 
There,  Lord,  to  lose,  in  bliss  of  Thine  embrace 

The  recreant  will ; 
There,  in  the  radiance  of  Thy  blessed  Face, 

Be  hushed  and  still ; 
There,  speechless  at  Thy  pierced  Feet 

See  none  and  nought  beside, 
And  know  but  this — that  Thou  art  sweet, 

That  I  am  satisfied. 

a.  t.  s. 


THE  NAME  ABOVE  EVERY  NAME        I? 


THE  NAME  ABOVE  EVERY  NAME 
Luke  i.  31. 

Name  of  Jesus  !  highest  Name ! 

Name  that  earth  and  Heaven  adore ! 
From  the  heart  of  God  it  came, 

Leads  me  to  God's  heart  once  more. 

Name  of  Jesus !  living  tide ! 

Days  of  drought  for  me  are  past ; 
How  much  more  than  satisfied, 

Are  the  thirsty  lips  at  last  I 

Name  of  Jesus  I  dearest  Name ! 

Bread  of  Heaven,  and  balm  of  love, 
Oil  of  gladness,  surest  claim 

To  the  treasures  stored  above. 

Jesus  gives  forgiveness  free, 
Jesus  cleanses  all  my  stains, 

Jesus  gives  His  life  to  me, 
Jesus  always  He  remains. 


1 8  WITH    HIM,    ALL   THINGS 

Only  Jesus !  fairest  Name  I 
Life,  and  rest,  and  peace  and  bliss ; 

Jesus,  evermore  the  same, 

He  is  mine,  and  I  am  His.     a.  t.  s. 


WITH  HIM,  ALL  THINGS 
Is.  xii.  2. 

Hath    not    each    heart    a    passion    and    a 
dream  ? 
Each  some  companionship  for  ever  sweet  ? 
And    each    in    saddest    skies    some    silver 
gleam, 
And  each  some  passing  joy,  too  fair  and 
fleet? 
And  each  a  staff  and  stay,  though  frail  it 
prove, 
And  each  a  face  he  fain  would  ever  see  ? 
And  what  have  I?     An  endless  Heaven  of 
love, 
A  rapture,  and  a  glory,  and  a  calm ; 
A  life  that  is  an  everlasting  Psalm, 
All,  O  Beloved,  in  Thee. 

G.  T.  S. 


THE   ABK   OF   OOB  1 9 

THE  ARK  OF  GOD 

Ps.  xliii.  3. 

Peace  !  O  restless  heart  of  mine ; 

Thou,  the  Still,  the  Blest, 
Lead  me  to  Thy  courts  divine, 

Thine  untroubled  rest. 
Tossed  upon  the  raving  sea, 
Still,  fair  land,  I  long  for  thee. 

Lord,  from  Thee  I  went  astray, 

Lured  by  magic  song ; 
Through  dim  places  far  away 

I  have  wandered  long — 
Now,  when  lost  are  moon  and  star, 
Shines  the  light  of  Home  afar. 

O'er  the  waves  that  cannot  rest, 

O'er  the  drifting  foam, 
Wandering  dove  without  a  nest ; 

Weary- winged,  I  come. 
From  the  lonely  wastes  of  sin, 
Blessed  Noah,  take  me  in. 


SO  WHITER   THAN   SNOW 

Take  me  in,  my  heart  implores, 

Leaving  far  behind 
All  the  thunder  of  the  shores, 

All  the  wailing  wind ; 
In  the  chambers  of  Thy  rest, 
Fold  me,  hush  me,  on  Thy  breast. 


Still  and  sweet  the  silence  deep, 

Where  no  foot  hath  trod ; 
Softer  than  an  infant's  sleep, 

Rest  alone  with  God ; 
Closed  on  me  Thy  palace  door, 
Perfect  peace  for  evermore. 

o.  t.  s. 


WHITER  THAN  SNOW 
Heb.  iv.  14. 

To  heart  and  soul  how  sweet  Thou  art, 

O  great  High  Priest  of  God ! 
My  heart  brought  nigh  to  God's  own  heart 

By  Thy  most  precious  blood. 


WHITER   THAN   SNOW  2  1 

No  more  my  countless  sins  shall  rise 

To  fill  me  with  dismay — 
That  precious  blood  before  His  eyes 

Hath  put  them  all  away. 

My  soul  draws  near  with  trust  secure, 
With  boldness  glad  and  free  ; 

What  matters  it  that  I  am  poor, 
For  I  am  rich  in  Thee. 

Forgotten  every  stain  and  spot, 
Their  memory  past  and  gone, 

For  me,  0  God,  Thou  seest  not, 
Thou  lookest  on  Thy  Son. 

Is  all  a  dream  ?    Thou  canst  not  lie, 

Thy  Spirit  and  Thy  Blood 
Proclaim  to  sinners  such  as  I 

The  boundless  love  of  God. 

They  tell  Thy  love,  so  deep,  so  free, 
They  tell  the  Father's  heart — 

Not  what  I  am,  or  I  must  be, 
They  tell  me  what  Thou  art. 

Come,  weary  sinners,  great  and  small, 

The  open  door  stands  wide, 
Thy  blessed  heart  that  welcomes  all, 

O  Lamb  of  God,  who  died.         g.  t.  s. 


22  THE    HABITATION   OF   GOD 

WITHIN   THE  HOLIEST 
Rev.  i.  5,  6. 

His  priest  am  I,  before  Him  day  and  night, 

Within  His  Holy  Place ; 
And  death,  and  life,  and  all  things  dark  and 
bright, 

I  spread  before  His  Face. 
Rejoicing  with  His  joy,  yet  ever  still, 

For  silence  is  my  song ; 
My  work  to  bend  beneath  His  blessed  will, 

All  day,  and  all  night  long — 
For  ever  holding  with  Him  converse  sweet, 
Yet  speechless,  for  my  gladness  is  complete. 

G.  T.  S. 

THE  HABITATION  OF  GOD 

Ps.  xxvii.  4. 

Here  on  earth  a  temple  stands, 
Temple  never  built  with  hands ; 
There  the  Lord  doth  fill  the  place 
With  the  glory  of  His  grace. 


"the  sun  to  rule  by  day  23 

Cleansed  by  Christ's  atoning  Blood, 
Thou  art  this  fair  House  of  God. 
Thoughts,  desires,  that  enter  there, 
Should  they  not  be  pure  and  fair  ? 
Meet  for  holy  courts  and  blest, 
Courts  of  stillness  and  of  rest, 
Where  the  soul,  a  priest  in  white, 
Singeth  praises  day  and  night ; 
Glory  of  the  love  divine 
Filling  all  this  heart  of  thine. 

G.  T.  S. 


"THE  SUN   TO  RULE  BY  DAY" 

Phil.  ii.  13. 

Thou    sayest,    "Fit    me,    fashion    me    for 
Thee." 
Stretch  forth  thine  empty  hands,  and  be 
thou  still ; 
O  restless  soul,  thou  dost  but  hinder  Me 

By  valiant  purpose  and  by  steadfast  will. 
Behold  the    summer    flowers    beneath  the 
sun, 
In  stillness  his  great  glory  they  behold ; 


24       BREAD   THAT   STRENGTHENED   MANS   HEAR! 

And  sweetly  thus  his  mighty  work  is  done, 
And  resting  in  his  gladness  they  unfold. 
So  are  the  sweetness  and  the  joy  divine 
Thine,  0  beloved,  and  the  work  is  Mine. 

a.  t.  s< 


BREAD   THAT  STRENGTHENETH 
MAN'S  HEART 

John  vi.  35. 

Man,  earthy  of  the  earth,  an-hungered  feeds 

On  earth's  dark  poison  tree — 
Wild  gourds,  and  deadly  roots,  and  bitter 
weeds ; 
And  as  his  food  is  he. 
And  hungry  souls  there  are,  that  find  and 
eat 
God's  manna  day  by  day — 
And  glad  they  are,  their  life  is  fresh  and 
sweet, 
For  as  their  food  are  they. 

a.  t.  s. 


THE   SIN-OFFERINO  2  5 

THE  SIN-OFFERING 
Matt,  xxvii.  46. 

Still,  0  soul  I  the  sign  and  wonder 

Of  all  ages  see — 
Christ,  thy  God,  the  King  of  glory, 

On  the  Cross  for  thee ; 
From  the  Father's  bosom  come, 
Wandering  soul,  to  bring  thee  home. 

Wouldst  thou  know  if  Jesus  loves  thee  ? 

If  He  loves  thee  well  ? 
See  Him  suffer,  broken-hearted, 

All  the  pains  of  hell — 
Smitten,  bearing  in  thy  room 
All  thy  guilt,  and  all  thy  doom. 

See  Him  of  His  God  forsaken, 

Hear  His  bitter  cries 
Rise  unanswered  through  the  darkness 

Of  the  silent  skies — 
See  the  fountain  of  the  blood 
Shed  to  bring  thee  back  to  God. 


26  THE   SIN-OFFERING 

Mine  the  sin,  O  mighty  Saviour, 
Laid  by  God  on  Thee — 

Mine  eternal  condemnation 
In  Thy  Cross  I  see — 

In  Thine  agony  divine 

See  the  curse  that  else  were  mine. 


See  the  conquest  and  the  triumph 
Thou  for  me  hast  won ; 

Justice  satisfied  for  ever, 

All  God's  pleasure  done. 

Thus,  O  smitten  Rock  !  from  Thee, 

Life  eternal  flows  to  me. 


Unto  me,  the  base,  the  guilty, 
Flows  that  living  flood  ; 

I,  Thine  enemy,  am  ransomed 
By  Thy  precious  Blood. 

Silent  at  Thy  feet  I  lie, 

Lost  in  love's  immensity. 


&  T.  8. 


PILGRIM   SONG  2J 

PILGRIM  SONG. 
Ps.  cxxxvi.  1 6. 

Comb,  children,  on  and  forward ! 

With  us  the  Father  goes ; 
He  leads  us,  and  He  guards  us 

Through  thousands  of  our  foes : 
The  sweetness  and  the  glory, 

The  sunlight  of  His  eyes, 
Make  all  the  desert  places 

To  glow  as  Paradise. 

Lo !  through  the  pathless  midnight 

The  fiery  pillar  leads, 
And  onward  goes  the  Shepherd 

Before  the  flock  He  feeds  ; 
Unquestioning,  unfearing, 

The  lambs  may  follow  on, 
In  quietness  and  confidence, 

Their  eyes  on  Him  alone. 

Come,  children,  on  and  forward ! 

We  journey  hand  in  hand, 
And  each  shall  cheer  his  brother 

All  through  the  stranger  land  ; 


2  8  PILGRIM   SONG 

And  hosts  of  God's  high  angels 
Beside  us  walk  in  white ; 

What  wonder  if  our  singing 
Make  music  through  the  night  ? 

Come,  children,  on  and  forward  I 

Each  hour  nearer  home  I 
The  pilgrim  days  speed  onward, 

And  soon  the  last  will  come. 
All  hail !  O  golden  city ! 

How  near  the  shining  towers  I 
Fair  gleams  our  Father's  palace : 

That  radiant  home  is  ours. 

On !  dare  and  suffer  all  things ! 

Yet  but  a  stretch  of  road, 
Then  wondrous  words  of  welcome, 

And  then  the  Face  of  God. 
The  world,  how  small  and  empty ! 

Our  eyes  have  looked  on  Him  ; 
The  mighty  Sun  has  risen, 

The  taper  burneth  dim. 

Far  through  the  depths  of  Heaven 
Our  Jesus  leads  His  own, 

The  Mightiest,  the  Fairest, 
Christ  ever,  Christ  alone. 


ALL   MANNER   OF   PRECIOUS  STONES  29 

Led  captive  by  His  sweetness, 
And  dowered  with  His  bliss, 

For  ever  He  is  ours, 
For  ever  we  are  His. 

g.  t.  s. 


ALL  MANNER  OF  PRECIOUS  STONES 
Mal.  iii.  17. 

Tb  ere  it  is  fair, 
Where  thousand,  thousand  flames  for  ever- 
more 

In  God's  high  palace  glow, 
No  more  they  light  the  dark  and  misty  shore, 

As  long  ago : 
They  burn,  a  crown  of  every  radiant  stone, 
For  ever  and  for  ever  round  the  throne, 

Christ's  diadem. 
Eternal  lamps  that  never  can  be  dim, 
Fed  by  the  golden  oil  that  flows  to  them 
For  ever  from  the  Heart  whence  flowed  the 

Blood, 
They  shine  with  light  of  every  precious  gem, 

Light  of  the  joy  of  God. 


30  THE  SCHOOL 

Past,  pain  and  sorrow,  and  all  sighs  and 
tears, 
All  shadows  and  all  stains, 
The  former  things  of  all  the  ancient  years. 

And  Christ  remains. 
All  swallowed  np  in  fulness  of  the  joy 

Where  Jesus  is — 
For  spirit,  soul,  and  body,  one  employ, 

To  share  His  bliss. 
There  do  the  lips  of  babes  tell  forth  His 
ways, 
His  wonders  deep ; 
And  sweet  their  song,  and  innocent  their 

praise, 
For  they  have  known  but  Heavens  unsullied 
days 
And  earth's  short  sleep, 
To  wake  in  everlasting  gladness  there, 
Where  all  is  fair,  g.  t.  s. 


THE  SCHOOL 

Matt,  xviii.  3. 

Where  is  the  school  for  each  and  all, 
Where  men  become  as  children  small, 
And  little  ones  are  great  ? 


THE   SCHOOL  3 1 

Where  love  is  all  the  task  and  rule, 
The  fee  our  all,  and  all  at  school, 
Small,  poor,  of  low  estate  ? 

Where  to  unlearn  all  things  I  learn, 
From  self  and  from  all  others  turn, 

One  Master  hear  and  see  ? 
I  learn  and  do  one  thing  alone, 
And  wholly  give  myself  to  One 

Who  gives  Himself  to  me. 

My  task,  possessing  nought,  to  give ; 
No  life  to  have,  yet  ever  live — 

And  ever  losing,  gain ; 
To  follow,  -knowing  not  the  way  ; 
If  He  shall  call,  to  answer,  "  Yea — 

All  hail  all  shame  and  pain  I  " 

Where  silent  in  His  Holy  Place 
I  look  enraptured  on  His  Face 

In  glory  undefiled ; 
And  know  the  heaven  of  His  kiss, 
The  doing  nought,  the  simple  bliss 

Of  being  but  a  child. 

Where  find  the  school,  to  men  unknown, 
Where  time  and  place  are  past  and  gone, 
The  hour  is  ever  NOW  ? 


32  THE   SABBATH    TEAR 

O  soul !  thou  needest  ask  no  more ; 
God  tells  thee  of  His  open  door : 
Still,  hearken  thou ! 

G.  T.  S. 


THE  SABBATH  YEAR 
Heb.  iv.  10. 

Oft  comes  to  me  a  blessed  hour, 

A  wondrous  hour  and  still — 
With  empty  hands  I  lay  me  down, 

No  more  to  work  or  will. 

An  hour  when  weary  thought  has  ceased, 

The  eyes  are  closed  in  rest ; 
And,  hushed  in  Heaven's  untroubled  peace, 

I  lie  upon  Thy  breast. 

Erewhile  I  reasoned  of  Thy  truth, 

I  searched  with  toil  and  care ; 
From  morn  to  night  I  tilled  my  field, 

And  yet  my  field  was  bare. 

Now,  fed  with  corn  from  fields  of  Heaven, 

The  fruit  of  Hands  Divine, 
I  pray  no  prayer,  for  all  is  given, 

The  Bread  of  God  is  mine. 


THE    SABBATH    YEAR  33 

There  lie  my  books — for  all  I  sought 

My  heart  possesses  now. 
The  words  are  sweet  that  tell  Thy  love, 

The  love  itself  art  Thou. 

One  line  I  read — and  then  no  more — 

I  close  the  book  to  see 
No  more  the  symbol  and  the  sign, 

But  Christ  revealed  to  me. 

And  thus  my  worship  is,  delight— 

My  workr  to  see  His  Face, 
With  folded  hands  and  silent  lips 

Within  His  Holy  place. 

Thus  oft  to  busy  men  I  seem 

A  cumberer  of  the  soil ; 
The  dreamer  of  an  empty  dream, 

Whilst  others  delve  and  toil. 

0  brothers !  in  these  silent  hours 

God's  miracles  are  wrought ; 
He  giveth  His  beloved  in  sleep 

A  treasure  all  unsought 


34  NO   MORE 

I  sit  an  infant  at  His  feet 

Where  moments  teach  me  more 

Than  all  the  toil,  and  all  the  books 
Of  all  the  ages  hoar. 

I  sought  the  truth,  and  found  but  doubt™ 

I  wandered  far  abroad ; 
I  hail  the  truth  already  found 

Within  the  heart  of  God. 

0.  T.  8. 


NO    MORE 

IS.  lx.   20. 

O  past  and  gone ! 
How  great  is  God  !  how  small  am  I ! 
A  mote  in  the  illimitable  sky, 
Amidst  the  glory  deep,  and  wide,  and  high 

Of  Heaven's  unclouded  sun. 
There  to  forget  myself  for  evermore ; 
Lost,  swallowed  up  in  Love's  immensity, 
The  sea  that  knows  no  sounding  and  no 
shore, 

God  only  there,  not  I. 


THE   OPENED    EYES  35 

More  near  than  I  unto  myself  can  be, 

Art  Thou  to  me  ; 
So  have  I  lost  myself  in  finding  Thee, 
Have  lost  myself  for  ever,  O  my  Sun ! 
The  boundless  Heaven  of  Thine  eternal  love 
Around  me,  and  beneath  me,  and  above ; 
In  glory  of  that  golden  day 
The  former  things  are  passed  away — 
I,  past  and  gone.  a.  t.  s. 


THE  OPENED  EYES 

John  ix.  37. 

"Where  is  a  God?"  doth  weary  Reason  say — 

"  I  see  but  starlit  skies/' 
"  Where  is  the  sun  ?  "    So  calleth  at  noonday 
The  man  with  sightless  eyes. 
Thou,  little  child,  from  thee  God  is  not  far ; 

Look  inwards,  not  above : 
Thou  needest  not  to  roam  from  star  to  star, 
For  God  is  Love. 

0*  T.  8. 


36  THE    CLOISTER   GARDEN 

THE  CLOISTER  GARDEN 

Ps.  xci.  i. 

How  good  it  is,  when  weaned  from  all  beside, 
With  God  alone  the  soul  is  satisfied, 

Deep  hidden  in  His  heart ! 
How  good  it  is,  redeemed,  and  washed,  and 

shriven, 
To  dwell,  a  cloistered  soul,  with  Christ  in 
heaven, 

Joined,  never  more  to  part ! 
How  good  the  heart's  still  chamber  thus  to 
close 

On  all  but  God  alone — 
There  in  the  sweetness  of  His  love  repose, 

His  love  unknown  ! 
All  else  for  ever  lost — forgotten  all 

That  else  can  be  ; 
In  rapture  undisturbed,  O  Lord,  to  fall 

And  worship  Thee. 
No  place,  no  time,  'neath  those  eternal  skies — 
How  still,  how  sweet,  and  how  surpassing 

fair 
That  solitude  in  glades  of  Paradise, 
And,  as  in  olden  days,  God  walking  there. 


THE   SUMMER   DAY  37 

I  hear  His  voice  amidst  the  stillness  blest, 

And  care  and  fear  are  past — 
I  lay  me  down  within  His  arms  to  rest 

From  all  my  works  at  last. 
How  good  it  is  when  from  the  distant  land, 
From   lonely  wanderings,    and  from  weary 

ways, 
The  soul  hath  reached  at  last  the  golden 
strand, 

The  Gates  of  Praise  ! 
There,  where  the  tide  of  endless  love  flows  free, 

There,  in  the  sweet  and  glad  eternity, 

The  -still,  unfading  Now. 
Ere  yet  the  days  and  nights  of  earth  are  o'er, 
Begun  the  day  that  is  for  evermore — 

Such  rest  art  Thou  ! 

a.  t.  s. 

THE  SUMMER  DAY 

Cant.  i.  7. 

Sweet    shades    and    fields   that   glow   with 
summer  flowers, 

How  dear  are  ye  to  me  ! 
Alone  with  Jesus,  doth  my  heart  adore  Him, 
That  ye  are  fair  to  see. 


38  THE   SUMMER   DAY 

Sweet  shades   and    fields  that   glow  with 
summer  flowers, 

How  dear  are  ye  to  me ! 
Nought    seen    in    you   but    tender    grace 
revealing, 

How  fair  His  thoughts  must  be. 
Sweet  shades  and    fields   that   glow   with 
summer  flowers, 

How  dear  are  ye  to  me ! 
How  soft  the  breathings  of  Thy  love,  Lord 
Jesus, 

I  rest  my  heart  on  Thee. 

All,  all  that  buds,  and  blossoms,  and  rejoices, 

Hath  my  Beloved  made  ; 
His  wisdom  and  His  tenderness  and  gladness 

Told  forth  in  leaf  and  blade. 
All,  all  that  buds,  and  blossoms,  and  rejoices, 

Hath  my  Beloved  made  ; 
All  moves  unto  the  music  of  His  power 

That  fills  the  woodland  glade. 
All,  all  that  buds,  and  blossoms,  and  rejoices, 

Hath  my  Beloved  made  ; 
But  heaven  and  earth,  in  all  their   radiant 
glory 

To  Him  are  midnight  shade. 


THE   SUMMER    DAY  39 

Lord   Jesus,   Thee  to  meet  and    to    adore 
Thee, 

I  sit  here  all  alone — 
All  else  may  vanish  as  the  mists  of  morning, 

Thou  art  mine  all,  mine  own. 
Lord  Jesus,  Thee  to  meet  and  to  adore  Thee, 

I  sit  here  all  alone  ; 
To  drink  afresh  the  river  of  Thy  pleasures, 

Know  more  of  the  unknown. 
Lord  Jesus,  Thee  to  meet  and  to  adore  Thee, 

I  sit  here  all  alone ; 
And  lose  myself,  and  find  that  Thou  art  only, 

Beside  Thee  nought  and  none. 

Alone  with  Thee  to  dwell,  O  my  Beloved, 

Is  heaven  on  earth  begun  ; 
Whilst  vanity  of  vanities  outwearies 

All  hearts  beneath  the  Sun. 
Alone  with  Thee  to  dwell,  O  my  Beloved, 

Is  heaven  on  earth  begun ; 
Above  the  midnight  and  the  noonday  glory, 

Our  resting-place  is  won. 
Alone  with  Thee  to  dwell,  O  my  Beloved, 

Is  heaven  on  earth  begun ; 
And  Thou  my  joy,  mine  everlasting  Heaven, 

My  pilgrim  journey  done.       a.  t.  s. 


40  THE    LAND    OF    REST 


THE  LAND  OF  REST 
Rev.  xxi.  5. 

Wanderer,  rest  thy  weary  feet ; 

Shapes  and  sounds  forgotten  now — 
Close  thine  eyes  in  stillness  sweet, 
With  thy  God  alone  art  thou. 
In  the  deeps  of  silence  rest, 
Let  Him  work  His  high  behest. 

Silence !  reasonings  hard  and  keen, 
Still — O  longings  sad  and  deep — 
Waken  to  the  morn  serene, 

Tangled  dreams  depart  with  sleep  ; 
In  the  calm  eternal  day 
Night's  wild  visions  past  away. 

In  the  silence  of  that  dawn 

God  shall  speak  His  words  of  grace, 
Light  that  round  thy  waking  shone 
Is  the  radiance  of  His  Face  ; 
Yearning  of  His  heart  to  thee, 
Fills  the  deep  immensity. 


THE   LAND   OF    REST  41 

Gently  loosens  He  thy  hold 

Of  the  treasured  former  things — 
Loves  and  joys  that  were  of  old, 
Shapes  to  which  the  spirit  clings — 
And  alone,  alone  He  stands, 
Stretching  forth  beseeching  hands. 

Lo,  the  soul  Thy  love  has  bought, 
Through  the  ages,  Lord,  am  I, 
Knowing  nought,  and  willing  nought, 
Thine  alone  eternally — 

Thine,  the  Bride  Thy  love  has  won, 
Gift  of  God  to  Christ  His  Son. 

In  Thy  strength  my  soul  is  still 

Clay  within  the  potter's  hands, 
Moulded  by  Thy  tender  will 
Mightier  than  all  commands  ; 

Shaped  and  moved  by  Thee  alone, 
Now,  and  evermore  Thine  own. 

G,  T.  a, 


4*  FOUND 

FOUND 

Matt,  xviii.  12, 

O  God,  through  Christ  the  living  way, 

My  Father  and  my  God, 
So  near,  and  I  so  far  astray, 

Brought  nigh  Thee  by  His  Blood. 

Myself,  and  this,  and  that,  I  sought 

Behind,  around,  before — 
And  yet  the  nearest  found  I  not, 

Until  I  sought  no  more. 

0  Love,  Thou  deep  eternal  tide, 
How  dear  are  men  to  Thee ! 

The  Father's  heart  is  opened  wide 
By  Jesus'  Blood  to  me. 

It  was  Thyself,  O  God,  who  sought, 
With  tender  yearnings  deep, 

The  loveless  soul  who  sought  Thee  not, 
The  worthless,  wandering  sheep. 

1  come,  yet  leave  myself  behind, 
And  thus  unfearing  come, 

For  nought  besides  Thyself  I  find 
In  mine  eternal  Home. 


THE    RIVER   OF   GOD  43 

I  come — Thine  open  arms  enfold 

And  welcome  me  within — 
Let  others  work  to  bring  their  gold, 

I  only  bring  my  sin. 

Thou  bringest  love  and  gladness  forth 
From  Thine  exhaustless  store, 

To  me,  deserving  but  Thy  wrath, 
The  life  for  evermore. 

And  now  by  magnet  force  led  on, 

I  reach  the  inmost  rest — 
The  nameless  rapture  of  the  son 

Upon  the  Father's  breast. 

G<   T.   8, 


THE  RIVER  OF  GOD 
Ps.  xlvi.  4. 

From  the  Rock  that  God  has  riven 
Flows  the  sacred  river, 

Through  the  wastes  of  barren  ages, 
Ever  and  for  ever. 


44  THE    RIVER    OF   GOB 

Still  on  this  side  and  on  that  side, 
Grow  the  healing  trees — 

Bearing  fruit  for  all  who  hunger, 
Leaves  for  all  disease. 

From  the  everlasting  fountains 

Still  it  flows  along, 
Making  glad  the  holy  city 

Of  eternal  song. 

From  the  throne  of  Christ  in  glory, 
Rock  that  God  has  riven, 

Onward  still  the  crystal  river 
Bears  the  life  of  Heaven. 

Sheep  lie  yet  in  quiet  pastures 

By  the  waters  still, 
Lilies  grow  in  God's  green  meadows, 

Cedars  on  His  hill. 

Still  to  drink  the  living  waters 
Come  the  souls  athirst, 

Eyes  behold  the  Face  of  Jesus 
Even  as  at  first. 

Clad  in  white  there  walk  beside  Him 
Still  the  blessed  throng — 

Through  the  ages  sound  unsilenced 
Psaltery  and  song. 


WITHIN   THE    VEIL  45 

Onwards  weary  generations 

Pass  through  deserts  dread, 

Void  and  silent  skies  above  them, 
Under  them  the  dead. 

Whilst  unseen  the  Lord's  fair  garden 
Round  about  them  glows, 

And  the  barren  wildernesses 
Blossom  as  the  rose. 

Whilst  beside  them  unimagined 

Glide  the  waters  fair — 
Whilst  around,  the  psalms  ascending 

Tell  that  Christ  is  there. 

o.  p.  o. 


WITHIN  THE   VEIL 

Ps.  c.  4. 

God  is  present  with    us — let   us  fall   and 
worship, 

Holy  is  the  place  ; 
God  is  in  the  midst,  our  souls  are  silent, 

Bowed  before  His  Face, 


46  WITHIN   THE    VEIL 

Lord,  we  kneel  before  Thee, 
Awed  by  love  Divine, 

We  of  Thee  unworthy- 
Own  that  we  are  Thine. 

Gladly  cast  before   Thee   all   delights  and 
pleasures, 

All  our  hoarded  store — 
Lord,   behold   our   hearts,    our    souls,   and 
bodies, 

Thine,  and  ours  no  more. 
We,  O  God,  Thine  only, 
Nevermore  our  own — 
Thine  the  praise  and  honour, 
Thine,  and  Thine  alone. 

Thou  Who  fillest  all  things,  in  Thee,  living, 
moving, 

Evermore  are  we  ; 
Shoreless     sea     unsounded,     mystery    and 
wonder, 

Sinks  my  soul  in  Thee — 
I  in  Thee — no  longer 

Bound  in  self's  dark  prison, 
And  the  life  that  moves  me, 
Fills  me,  Christ  arisen. 


WITHIN    THK    VEIL  47 

Thou  the  Light  that  fillest  all  the  endless 
heavens, 

Shinest  on  my  face, 
As  the  tender  flowers  joyfully  unfolding 
In  their  silent  grace, 

Whilst  the  Sun  beholds  them— 

Thus  my  soul  is  still, 
Thine  the  glorious  power, 
Thine  the  mighty  will. 

Mine   but  to   be   simple;    in  the  fields   of 
heaven 

All  my  sweet  employ, 
Loving  and    delighting,    as   a    child    that 
singeth 

With  unbidden  joy — 
As  an  eagle  soaring 

Up  the  radiant  skies, 
Even  now  to  find  Thee 
In  Thy  Paradise. 

a.  t.  s. 


48  THE   JOYPTJL   SOUND 

EVENSONG 
Ps.  xei.  4. 

Take  me,  Jesus,  to  Thy  breast ; 
Folded  close  in  warmth  and  rest, 

Keep  me  near  to  Thee ; 
Silenced  in  the  bliss  profound 
Of  the  love  that  wraps  me  round, 

Every  care  shall  be. 
Every  breath  for  Thee  alone, 
O  my  heart's  beloved  One ; 

Comfort  me  in  sleep. 
Still  deep  rest  art  Thou  to  Thine, 
Safely  in  Thine  arms  divine 

Thy  beloved  keep. 

Q.  T.  8. 

THE  JOYFUL  SOUND 
1  Cor.  i.  23,  24. 

O  that  Thy  Name  may  be  sounded 

Afar  over  earth  and  sea, 
Till  the  dead  awaken  and  praise  Thee, 

And  the  dumb  lips  sing  to  Thee ! 


THE   GREAT    HIGH    PRIEST  49 

Sound  forth  as  a  song  of  triumph 
Wherever  man's  foot  has  trod, 
The  despised,  the  derided  message, 

The  foolishness  of  God. 
Jesus,  dishonoured  and  dying, 

A  felon  on  either  side — 
Jesus,  the  song  of  the  drunkards, 
Jesus  the  Crucified ! 

Name  of  God's  tender  comfort, 
Name  of  His  glorious  power, 
Name  that  is  song  and  sweetness 
The  strong  everlasting  tower. 
Jesus  the  Lamb  accepted, 
Jesus  the  Priest  on  His  throne— 
Jesus  the  King  who  is  coming — 
Jesus,  Thy  Name  alone  ! 

c.  p.  a 


THE  GREAT  HIGH  PRIEST 
Heb.  vii.  24,  25. 

Sweet  to  trace  His  toiling  footsteps 
Here  amidst  the  desert  sands ; 

Bear  in  memory  all  His  sorrow, 
Thorn-clad  head  and  pierced  hands 


50  THE   GREAT    HIGH    PRIEST 

Learn  His  love  beside  the  manger, 
Learn  it  on  the  stormy  wave, 

By  the  well,  and  in  the  garden — 
Learn  it  by  the  Cross  and  grave. 

Yet  not  only  in  remembrance 

Do  we  watch  that  stream  of  love — 
Still  a  mighty  torrent  flowing 

From  the  throne  of  God  above. 
Still  a  treasure  all  uncounted — 

Still  a  story  half  untold — 
Unexhausted  and  unfathomed, 

Fresh  as  in  the  days  of  old. 

Christ  at  God's  right  hand  unwearied 

By  our  tale  of  shame  and  sin, 
Day  by  day,  and  hour  by  hour, 

Welcoming  each  Wanderer  in  ; 
On  His  heart  amidst  the  glory, 

Bearing  all  our  grief  and  care  ; 
Every  burden,  ere  we  feel  it, 

Weighed  and  measured  in  His  prayer, 

Fragrant  thus  with  priestly  incense 
Each  distress,  each  sorrow  tells 

Thoughts  that  fill  the  heart  of  Jesus 
In  the  glory  where  He  dwells. 


THE   GREAT    HIGH    PRIEST  5 1 

All  His  love,  His  joy,  His  glory, 
By  His  Spirit  here  made  known, 

Whilst  that  Spirit  speaks  the  sorrows 
Of  His  saints  before  the  throne. 

He,  of  old  the  Man  of  Sorrows, 

Pleads  before  the  Father's  face, 
Knowing  all  the  needed  solace, 

Claiming  all  the  needed  grace. 
We,  so  faithless  and  so  weary, 

Serving  with  impatient  will — 
He  unwearied  in  our  service, 

Gladly  ministering  still. 

Girded  with  the  golden  girdle, 

Shining  as  the  mighty  sun, 
Still  His  pierced  hands  will  finish 

All  His  work  of  love  begun. 
On  the  night  of  His  betrayal, 

In  the  glory  of  the  throne, 
Still  with  faithful  patience  washing 

All  defilement  from  His  own. 

When  the  Father's  house  resoundeth 
With  the  music  and  the  song ; 

When  the  bride  in  glorious  raiment 
Sees  the  One  who  loved  so  long ; 


%%  MY  aoD 

Then  for  new  and  blessed  service 
Girt  afresh  will  He  appear, 

Stand  and  serve  before  His  angels 
Those  who  waited  for  Him  here. 

He  who  led  them  through  the  desert, 

Watched  and  guided  day  by  day, 
Turned  the  flinty  rocks  to  water, 

Made  them  brooks  beside  the  way — 
He  will  bring  them  where  the  fountains 

Fresh  and  full  spring  forth  above, 
Still  throughout  the  endless  ages 

Serving  in  the  joy  of  love. 

T.  P. 


MY  GOD 

Ps.  lxxiii.  25. 

As  the  bridegroom  to  his  chosen, 
As  the  king  unto  his  realm, 

As  the  keep  unto  the  castle, 
As  the  pilot  to  the  helm, 

So,  Lord,  art  Thou  to  me. 


MY    GOD  53 

As  the  fountain  in  the  garden, 
As  the  candle  in  the  dark, 

As  the  treasure  in  the  coffer, 
As  the  manna  in  the  ark, 

So,  Lord,  art  Thou  to  me, 

As  the  music  at  the  banquet, 
As  the  stamp  unto  the  seal, 

As  the  medicine  to  the  fainting, 
As  the  wine-cup  at  the  meal, 
So,  Lord,  art  Thou  to  me, 

As  the  ruby  in  the  setting, 
As  the  honey  in  the  comb, 

As  the  light  within  the  lantern, 
As  the  father  in  the  home, 
So,  Lord,  art  Thou  to  me. 

As  the  sunshine  to  the  heavens, 

As  the  image  to  the  glass, 
As  the  fruit  unto  the  fig-tree, 

As  the  dew  unto  the  grass, 
So,  Lord,  art  Thou  to  me. 

J.  Tauler. 


$4  THE   CHASE 

IN  THE   GARDEN  OF  GOD 
Cant.  ii.  2. 

As  the  lily  of  the  valley, 

White  and  pure  and  sweet, 
As  the  lowly  violet  trodden 

Under  wandering  feet ; 
As  the  rose  amidst  the  briars 

Fresh  and  fair  is  found, 
Heedless  of  the  tangled  thicket, 

And  the  thorns  around — 
As  the  sun-flower  ever  turning 

To  the  mighty  sun, 
With  the  faithfulness  of  fealty 

Following  only  one — 

So  make  me,  Lord,  to  Thee. 

J.  Tauler 

THE    CHASE 

Is.  xli.  17. 

O  Lord,  the  most  fair,  the  most  tender, 
My  heart  is  adrift  and  alone  ; 

My  heart  is  aweary  and  thirsty — 
Athirst  for  a  joy  unknown. 


THE   CHASE  55 

From    a    child     I     have     followed    it — 
chased  it, 

By  wilderness,  wold,  and  hill — 
I  never  have  reached  it  or  seen  it, 

Yet  must  I  follow  it  still. 

In  those  olden  years  did  I  seek  it 

In  the  sweet  fair  things  around, 
But  the  more  I  sought  and  I  thirsted, 

The  less,  O  my  Lord,  I  found. 
When  nearest  it  seemed  to  my  grasping, 

It  fled  like  a  wandering  thought ; 
I  never  have  known  what  it  is,  Lord — 

Too  well  know  I  what  it  is  not. 

"  It  is  I,  it  is  I,  the  Eternal, 

Who  chose  thee  Mine  own  to  be — 
Who  chose  thee  before  the  ages — 

Who  chose  thee  eternally. 
I  stood  in  the  way  before  thee, 

In  the  ways  thou  wouldest  have  gone  ; 
For  this  is  the  mark  of  My  chosen, 

That  they  shall  be  Mine  alone/' 

H.  Suso 


56  THE   FINDING 

THE    FINDING 
Deut.  xxxii.  10. 

Now  have  I  seen  Thee  and  found  Thee, 

For  Thou  hast  found  Thy  sheep ; 
I  fled,  but  Thy  love  would  follow — 

I  strayed,  but  Thy  grace  would  keep. 
Thou  hast  granted  my  heart's  desire — 

Most  blest  of  the  blessed  is  he 
Who  findeth  no  rest  and  no  sweetness 

Till  he  rests,  O  Lord,  in  Thee. 

O  Lord,  Thou  seest,  Thou  knowest, 

That  to  none  my  heart  can  tell 
The  joy  and  the  love  and  the  sorrow, 

The  tale  that  my  heart  knows  well. 
But  to  Thee,  0  my  God,  I  can  tell  it — 

To  Thee,  and  to  Thee,  Lord,  alone ; 
For  Thy  heart  my  heart  hath  a  language, 

For  other  hearts  it  hath  none. 

In  the  wide  world,  speechless  and  lonely, 
For  me  is  no  heart  but  Thine ; 

Lord,  since  I  must  love  Thee  only, 
Oh  reveal  Thy  heart  to  mine. 


THE    FINDING  57 

"  Wouldst  thou  know  My  glory,  beloved  ? 

Know  Me,  the  great  I  AM  ? 
First  must  thine  eyes  behold  Me, 

The  slain  and  the  stricken  Lamb. 

"  My  visage  so  marred  more  than  any, 

My  form  than  the  sons  of  men  ; 
Yet  to  the  heart  I  have  won  Me, 

I  am  the  fairest  then. 
Thou  knowest  the  sun  by  his  glory — 

Thou  knowest  the  rose  by  her  breath, 
Thou  knowest  the  fire  by  its  glowing — 

Thou  knowest  My  love  by  death. 

"  Wouldst  thou  know  in  My  great  creation 

Where  the  rays  of  My  glory  meet  ? 
Where  to  My  awful  righteousness 

The  kiss  of  My  peace  is  sweet  ? 
Where  shine  forth  the  wisdom  and  wonder 

Of  God's  everlasting  plan  ? 
Behold  on  the  cross  of  dishonour 

A  cursed  and  a  dying  Man/' 

H   Suso. 


58  THE    KNIGHT   OF   GOD 

THE  KNIGHT  OF  GOD 
Acts  ix.  16. 

As  the  song  of  him  who  singeth, 

Playing  on  a  harp  of  gold, 
So  to  me  was  Christ's  evangel 
In  the  days  of  old. 

Thus  across  the  lake  of  Constance 

Went  I  forth  to  preach  His  Word, 
And  beside  me  sat  the  squire 
Of  a  noble  lord. 

None  in  all  the  ship  so  knightly, 
None  so  bravely  dight  as  he — 
"  Tell  nie,"  I  besought,  "  thine  errand 
Yonder  oer  the  sea." 

"  I  go  forth/'  he  said,  "  to  gather 
Many  a  knight  and  noble  bold  ; 
They  shall  tilt  at  joust  and  tourney, 
Whilst  fair  eyes  behold. 

"  And  the  bravest  and  the  noblest 

He  shall  win  a  glorious  prize, 

Smiles  to  boot,  and  courtly  favour 

In  the  ladies'  eyes," 


THE   KNIGHT   OF   GOB  59 

11  Tell  me  what  shall  be  the  guerdon  ?  * 

u  Lo,  the  fairest  in  the  land 
Sets  a  gold  ring  on  his  finger 
With  her  lily  hand." 

"  Tell  me  how  the  knight  may  win  it  ?  " 

u  Scars  and  bruises  must  he  boast, 
For  the  knight  shall  be  the  winner 
Who  endures  the  most." 

"  Tell  me,  if  when  first  assaulted, 

He  in  knightly  guise  shall  stand, 
Shall  he  win  the  golden  guerdon 
From  his  lady's  hand?" 

H  Nay,  right  on,  till  all  is  over, 

Must  a  worthy  knight  hold  on  ; 
Bear  the  brunt,  and  stand  a  conqueror 
When  the  fight  is  done." 

"  And  if  he  be  wounded  sorely, 

Will  he  weep  and  will  he  mourn  ?  " 
H  Nay,  in  place  of  winning  honour, 
He  would  win  but  scorn." 

Then  my  spirit  sank  within  me, 

And  within  my  heart  I  spake — 

11 0  my  Lord,  thus  fight  the  knightly 

For  their  honour's  sake* 


6C  THE    KNIGHT   OF   GOD 

Small  the  prize,  and  stern  the  battle, 
Worthless  gain,  and  weary  fight — 
Lord,  a  ring  of  stones  most  precious 
Hast  thou  for  Thy  knight ! 

"  Oh,  to  be  the  knight  of  Jesus ! 

Scorning  pain,  and  shame,  and  loss  ; 
There  the  crown,  the  joy,  the  glory, 
Here,  O  Lord,  Thy  Cross." 

Then  I  wept,  with  bitter  longing 
Thus  the  knight  of  God  to  be  ; 
And  the  Lord,  who  saw  me  weeping, 
Gave  the  cross  to  me. 

Bitter  pain,  and  shame,  and  sorrow 

Came  upon  me  as  a  flood — 
I  forgot  it  was  the  tourney 
Of  the  knights  of  God. 

And  again  I  wept,  beseeching, 

"  Take  the  Cross,  0  Lord,  from  me  ! n 
Till  a  light  broke  like  the  morning 
Over  the  wild  sea. 

Then  there  spake  the  Voice  beloved, 
Still  and  sweet  my  heart  within — 
"  Is  it  thus,  O  knight  of  Jesus, 

Thou  the  prize  wilt  win  ?  " 


THE    MAT  6l 

•'  O  my  Lord,  the  fight  is  weary — 
Weary,  and  my  heart  is  sore  !  " 
"  And,"  he  answered,  "  fair  the  guerdon, 
And  for  evermore." 

"  I  have  shamed  Thee,  craven-hearted, 
I  have  been  Thy  recreant  knight — 
Own  me  yet,  O  Lord,  albeit 

Weeping  whilst  I  fight." 

"  Nay,"  He  said  ;  "  yet  wilt  thou  shame  Me  \ 

Wilt  thou  shame  thy  knightly  guise  ? 
I  would  have  My  Angels  wonder 
At  thy  gladsome  eyes. 

"  Need'st  thou  pity,  knight  of  Jesus  ? — 
Pity  for  thy  glorious  hest  ? 
On  !  let  God  and  men  and  angels 
See  that  thou  art  blest." 

H.  Suso. 

THE   MA  T 

Is.  1.  6. 

It  was  on  a  winter's  morning 

In  the  days  of  old, 
In  his  cell  sat  Father  Henry, 

Sorrowful  and  cold. 


6a  THE    MAT 

u  O  my  Lord,  I  am  aweary/' 

In  his  heart  he  spake, 
"  For  my  brethren  scorn  and  hate  me 

For  Thy  blessed  sake. 

"  If  I  had  but  one  to  love  me 

That  were  joyful  cheer — 
One  small  word  to  make  me  sunshine 

Through  the  darksome  year ! 

"  But  they  mock  me  and  despise  me 

Till  my  heart  is  stung — 
Then  my  words  are  wild  and  bitter, 

Tameless  is  my  tongue/' 

Then  the  Lord  said,  " I  am  with  thee; 

Trust  thyself  to  Me  ; 
Open  thou  thy  little  casement, 

Mark  what  thou  shalt  see." 

Then  a  piteous  look  and  wistful 

Father  Henry  cast 
Out  into  the  dim  old  cloister 

And  the  wintry  blast. 

Was  it  that  a  friend  was  coming 

By  some  Angel  led  ? 
No  I  a  great  hound  wild  and  savage 

Round  the  cloister  sped. 


THE    MAT  63 

Some  old  mat  that  lay  forgotten 

Seized  he  on  his  way — 
Tore  it,  tossed  it,  dragged  it  wildly 

Round  the  cloister  gray. 

"  Lo,  the  hound  is  like  thy  brethren/' 

Spake  the  Voice  he  knew ; 
"  If  thou  art  the  mat,  beloved, 

What  hast  thou  to  do  ?" 

Meekly  then  went  Father  Henry, 

And  the  mat  he  bare 
To  his  little  cell  to  store  it 

As  a  jewel  rare. 

Many  a  winter  and  a  summer 
Through  those  cloisters  dim, 

Did  he  thenceforth  walk  rejoicing, 
And  the  Lord  with  him. 

And  when  bitter  words  would  sting  him, 

Turned  he  to  his  cell, 
Took  his  mat,  and  looked  upon  it, 

Saying,  "  All  is  well. 

"  He  who  is  the  least  and  lowest 

Needs  but  low  to  lie ; 
Lord,  I  thank  Thee  and  I  praise  Thee 

That  the  mat  am  I." 


64  THE   NIGHT   WATCH 

"  On  the  cold  and  footworn  pavement 

Lies  it  still  and  flat. 
Raves  not  if  men  trample  on  it, 

For  it  is  a  mat." 

Then  he  wept,  for  in  the  stillness 

His  Beloved  spake, 
"  Thus  was  /  the  least  and  lowest, 

Gladly,  for  thy  sake. 

"  Lo,  My  face  to  shame  and  spitting 

Did  I  turn  for  thee ; 
If  thou  art  the  least  and  lowest, 

Then  remember  Me."  H.  Suso. 

THE  NIGHT   WATCH 
Ps.  cxxx.  6. 

Oh  when  shall  the  fair  day  break,  and  the 

hour  of  gladness  come, 
When  I  to  my  heart's  Beloved,  to  Thee,  0 

my  Lord,  go  home  ? 

0  Lord,  the  ages  are  long,  and  weary  my 

heart  for  Thee, 
For  Thee,  O  my  one  Beloved,  whose  Voice 
shall  call  for  me. 

1  would  see  Thee  face  to  face,  Thou  Light  of 

my  weary  eyes, 


THE    MEETING  65 

I  wait  and  I  watch  till  morning  shall  open 

the  gate  of  the  skies  ; 
The  morn  when  I  rise  aloft,  to  my  one,  my 

only  bliss, 
To   know   the   smile   of  Thy   welcome,  the 

mystery  of  Thy  kiss. 
For  here  hath  my  foot  no  rest,  and  mine  eye 

sees  all  things  fair 
As  a  dream  of  a  land  enchanted,  for  my 

heart's  love  is  not  there  ; 
And  amidst  the   thronging   of  men  I  am 

lonelier  than  alone, 
For  my  eye  seeketh  One  I  find  not,  my  heart 

craveth  only  One.  H.  Suso. 


THE  MEETING 
Rom.  viii.  35. 

To  Thee,  Lord,  my  heart  unfoldeth, 

As  the  rose  to  the  golden  sun — 
To  Thee,  Lord,  mine  arms  are  clinging, 

The  eternal  joy  begun. 
For  ever,  through  endless  ages, 

Thy  cross  and  Thy  sorrow  shall  be 
The  glory,  the  song,  and  the  sweetness 

That  make  heaven  heaven  to  me. 

E 


66  THE    THIRST   OF   GOD 

Let  one  in  his  innocence  glory, 

Another  in  works  he  has  done — 
Thy  Blood  is  my  claim  and  my  title, 

Beside  it,  O  Lord,  I  have  none. 
The  Scorned,  the  Despised,  the  Rejected, 

Thou  hast  won  Thee  this  heart  of  mine ; 
In  Thy  robes  of  eternal  glory 

Thou  welcomest  me  to  Thine,     g   gug0 


THE    THIRST  OF  GOD 

John  iv.  7. 

The  hart  panteth  after  the  waters, 

The  dying  for  life  that  departs ; 
The  Lord  in  His  glory  for  sinners, 

For  the  love  of  rebellious  hearts. 
Call  back  all  the  days  of  the  ages, 

All  snow-flakes  come  down  from  above 
All  flowers  of  summers  departed, 

But  think  not  to  measure  His  love. 

Behold  Him,  O  soul,  where  He  told  it, 
Pale,  bleeding,  and  bearing  thy  sin  ; 

He  knocketh,  saith,  "  Open,  beloved, 
I  pray  thee  to  let  Me  come  in. 


"the  marks  of  the  lord  JESUS  *  67 

Behold,  I  have  borne  all  the  judgment, 
Thy  sins,  O  beloved,  are  gone ; 

Forgotten,  forgotten  for  ever, 
God  seeketh,  but  findeth  not  one. 

"  Behold,  with  what  labour  I  won  thee, 

Behold  in  My  hands  and  My  feet, 
The  tale  of  My  measureless  sorrow — 

Of  love  that  made  sorrow  so  sweet. 
A  flax-thread  in  oceans  of  fire 

How  soon  swallowed  up  would  it  be  ! 
Yet  sooner  in  oceans  of  mercy 

The  sinner  that  cometh  to  Me." 

H.  Suso. 


"  THE  MARKS  OF  THE  LORD  JESUS" 
Phil.  iii.  10. 

I  would  bear  in  my  body  the  dying 

Of  Him  who  has  died  for  me — 
Here  share,  0  my  Lord,  Thy  rejection 

Ere  I  sit  on  Thy  throne  with  Thee. 
I  see  Thee  alone,  broken-hearted, 

Of  comforters  findest  Thou  none  ; 
Yet  Thine  was  the  gladness  of  Heaven, 

The  love  and  the  glory  Thine  own. 


68  "the  marks  of  the  lord  jesus" 

The  gall  and  the  vinegar  only, 

The  thirst  of  Thine  agony  stills  ; 
Yet  Thine  were  the  streams  and  the  foun- 
tains 

Of  Thine  everlasting  hills. 
In  sorrow,  in  want,  in  dishonour, 

How  dear  are  Thy  footsteps  to  me ; 
The  fountain  is  sweet  to  the  thirsty, 

But  sweeter  is  thirsting  with  Thee. 

Thus  to  show  to  the  world  that  rejects  Thee, 

To  show  to  the  Angels  above, 
How  blessed  Thy  yoke  and  Thy  burden, 

To  him  who  has  tasted  Thy  love. 
The  maiden  who  gathereth  roses, 

Another,  another  would  find  ; 
So  sweet  are  the  tracks  of  Thy  sorrow 

To  him  who  would  follow  behind. 

Thus  would  I  press  on  to  the  glory, 

A  knight  in  the  army  of  God, 
Whose  march  will  be  onward  and  forward 

Because  of  the  foes  on  the  road. 
Above  me  the  stars  in  the  heavens, 

Stars  countless,  so  many  they  be ; 
So  glorious,  albeit  so  countless 

The  sorrows  I  suffer  for  Thee. 


THE   NEW   SONG  69 


THE  NEW  SONG 
Job  xxxv.  10. 

0  Lord,  in  my  songs  I  have  praised  Thee 
For  all  that  was  sweet  and  was  fair ; 

And  now  a  new  song  would  I  sing  Thee, 
A  song  that  is  wondrous  and  rare. 

A  song  of  the  heart  that  is  broken, 
A  song  of  the  sighs  and  the  tears, 

The  sickness,  the  want,  and  the  sadness 
Of  the  days  of  our  pilgrimage  years. 

A  song  of  the  widows  and  orphans, 
Of  the  weary  and  hungry  and  sad — 

Loud  praise  of  the  will  Thou  hast  broken, 
The  will  of  the  young  and  the  glad. 

A  song  of  the  outcasts  and  marytrs, 
A  song  of  the  scorned  and  despised— 

The  lonely,  dishonoured,  forsaken, 
Who  knew  the  rejection  of  Christ. 

Sweet  sings  the  great  choir  of  sorrow 
The  song  of  the  gladness  untold, 

To  Him  on  the  Throne  of  His  glory, 
Who  wept  in  the  days  of  old.    tt  g 


JO  THE   DASFCK 

THE  DANCE 
Ps.  cxlix.  3. 

To  praise  Him  in  the  dance !     0  glorious 
day ! 

The  pilgrim  journey  done — 
No  more  press  forward  on  the  weary  way, 

For  all  is  reached  and  won ! 

His  Hand  at  last,  the  Hand  once  pierced 
for  me, 

For  ever  holdeth  mine  ; 
O  Lord,  no  songs,  no  harps  of  heaven  will  be 

Sweet  as  one  word  of  Thine. 

Lord,  altogether  lovely  !  then  at  last 

High  shall  the  guerdon  be, 
Thy  kiss  outweigh  the  weary  ages  past 

Of  hearts  that  brake  for  Thee. 

Yet  now  I  know  Thee  as  the  hidden  Bread, 

The  living  One,  who  died — 
Who  sitteth  at  my  table — by  my  bed — 

Who  walketh  at  my  side. 


THE    DANCE  7 1 

I  know  Thee  as  the  fountain  of  deep  bliss, 

Whereof  one  drop  shall  make 
The  joys  of  all  the  world  as  bitterness, 

My  Lord,  for  Thy  sweet  sake. 

Lord,  Thou  hast  loved  me — and  henceforth 
to  me 

Earth's  noonday  is  but  gloom  ; 
My  soul  sails  forth  on  the  eternal  sea, 

And  leaves  the  shore  of  doom. 

I  pass  within  the  glory  even  now, 
Where  shapes  and  words  are  not, 

For  joy  that  passeth  words,  O  Lord,  art  Thou, 
A  bliss  that  passeth  thought. 

I  enter  there,  for  Thou  hast  borne  away 

The  burden  of  my  sin ; 
With  conscience  clear  as  heaven's  unclouded 
day 

Thy  courts  I  enter  in. 

Heaven  now  for  me — for  ever  Christ  and 
heaven — 

The  endless  NOW  begun — 
No  promise — but  a  gift  eternal  given, 

Because  the  work  is  done.  g    gu 


72  "OUT    OF    THE    DEPTHS 

"OUT  OF   THE  DEPTHS" 

2  Cor.  iv.  17. 

u  O   Father  !    not  my  will,  but   Thine  be 
done ! " 
Thus  with  my  lips  I  say ; 
Yet  lags  the  heart,  the  while  the  lips  would 
run — 
My  heart,  it  sayeth  "  Nay." 

"  Be  comforted,  0  child  of  My  delight, 
Though  yet  thy  heart  complain  ; 

For    I    would    have    thee    suffer    when    I 
smite, 
Or  pain  would  not  be  pain. 

"  Were  it  a  chastening  if  it  were  not  grief? 

Yet  for  a  moment  tears — 
Then  glows  the  spring  where  fell  the  yellow 
leaf, 

Of  Heaven's  eternal  years. 

"  For  sorrow  is  the  sorrow  of  an  hour, 

And  is  eternal  love  ; 
The  dusky  bud  enfolds  the  glorious  flower 

For  God's  delight  above/' 


"out  of  the  depths  73 

O  Lord,  whose  lips  are  lilies,  sweet  to  me 

As  psaltery  and  as  psalm, 
Thy  blessed  words  of  glory  that  shall  be, 

Of  song,  and  crown,  and  palm. 

Yet  sweeter  even  now  to  see  Thy  Face, 

To  find  Thee  now  my  rest — 
My  sorrow  comforted  in  Thine  embrace, 

And  soothed  upon  Thy  breast. 

Lord,  there  to  weep  is  better  than  the  joy 

Of  all  the  sons  of  men  ; 
For  there  I  know  the  love  without  alloy, 

I  cannot  lose  again. 

"  0  child,  My  heart's  beloved,  sweet  to  me, 

As  psaltery  and  as  psalm, 
The  voice  of  him  who  on  the  midnight  sea 

Can  praise  through  storm  and  calm. 

"  And  who  is  he  who  seeks  the  haven  fair, 

The  everlasting  Home  ? 
The  lonely  and  the  outcast  enter  there — 

The  glad  heart  will  not  come. 

"  To  Me  the  weary  cometh  when  the  way 

Is  steep  and  long  and  lone — 
To  Me  the  friendless,  when  the  golden  day 

Behind  the  hills  is  gone." 


74  "out  of  the  depths" 

Then  spake  my  heart,  "  For  him  who  comes 
are  pain 

And  bitter  tears  and  scars ; 
The  briars  of  the  wilderness  remain 

Griefs  countless  as  the  stars. 

"As  he  who  from   the   poor  his  garment 
takes 

When  drives  the  storm  and  sleet, 
Is  he  who  singeth  to  the  heart  that  breaks 

How  then  may  grief  be  sweet  i " 

And  lo  !  in  vision  fair  did  I  behold 

One  who  a  psaltery  strung — 
Two  threads  he  stretched  above  the  strings 
of  gold, 

Across,  and  all  along. 

Then  with  the  threads  thus  crosswise  o'er 
the  strings, 

Gave  he  the  harp  to  me — 
Thus  know  I  how  the  broken-hearted  sings, 

O  Lamb  of  God,  to  Thee. 

a  suso. 


I    AM    NOT  75 


"/  AM  NOT" 

John  i.  21. 

"  1  am  not ; "  0  words  unwelcome 

To  the  lips  of  men — 
"  I  am  not ; "  0  words  that  lead  us 

Back  to  God  again  ! 

Speech  of  him  who  knows  the  pathway 

To  that  refuge  sweet, 
Where  is  covert  from  the  tempest, 

Shadow  from  the  heat. 

Speech  of  Heaven,  from  wise  men  hidden, 

Unto  children  taught ; 
Few  the  words  of  that  great  lesson, 

Only  "  I  am  not." 

Heart  of  man,  another  language 

Is  thy  native  speech, 
Spoken  by  a  thousand  races, 

All  alike  in  each. 

"  I  am, — "  rich,  or  wise,  or  holy — 

"  Thus,  and  thus  am  I ; " 
For  "  I  am,"  men  live  and  labour, 

For  "  I  am,"  they  die. 


?6  ul    AM    NOT35 

For  "  I  am,"  men  dare  and  suffer, 

Count  all  loss  as  gain, 
Toil  and  weariness  and  bondage, 

Sin  and  grief  and  pain. 

In  the  blessed  Gospel  read  we 

How  a  rich  man  bade 
Christ  the  Lord  and  His  disciples 

To  a  feast  he  made. 

Well  it  was  to  feed  the  prophet ; 

Thus  the  rich  man  thought, 
But  amidst  his  wealth  and  bounty 

Lacked  he  "  I  am  not." 

Then  there  came  a  sinful  woman, 
Eyes  with  weeping  dim — 

"  I  am  not,"  her  heart  was  saying- 
She  had  looked  on  Him. 

He  beheld  her  broken-hearted, 

Ruined  and  undone, 
Yet  enthroned  above  the  angels 

Brighter  than  the  Sun. 

All  the  while  in  dust  before  Him 

Did  her  heart  adore, 
"  I  am  not,"  that  song  of  gladness- 

"  Them  art,  evermore." 


the  master's  hand  77 

For  His  heart  to  hers  had  spoken, 

To  His  wandering  lamb ; 
In  the  speech  of  Love  Eternal, 

He  had  said  "  I  AM." 

Now  she  thirsts  no  more  for  ever, 

All  she  would  is  given ; 
None  on  earth  hath  she  beside  Him, 

None  beside  in  Heaven. 

Oh  how  fair  that  heavenly  portion, 

That  eternal  lot ; 
Christ,  and  Christ  alone,  for  ever — 

Ever  "  I  am  not/'  H.  Suso. 


THE  MASTERS  HAND 

Phil.  i.  21. 

"To  me  to  live  is  Christ,"  and  yet  the  days 

Are  days  of  toiling  men ; 
We  rise  at  morn,  and  tread  the  beaten  ways, 

And  lay  us  down  again. 

How  is  it  that  this  base,  unsightly  life 

Can  yet  be  Christ  alone  ? 
Our  common  need,  and  weariness,  and  strife, 

While  common  days  wear  on  ? 


78  the  master's  hand 

Then  saw  I  how  before  a  Master  wise 

A  shapeless  stone  was  set ; 
He  said,  "  Therein  a  form  of  beauty  lies 

Though  none  behold  it  yet." 

"  When  all  beside  it  shall  be  hewn  away, 
That  glorious  shape  shall  stand, 

In  beauty  of  the  everlasting  day, 
Of  the  unsullied  land." 

Thus  is  it  with  the  homely  life  around, 

There  hidden,  Christ  abides ; 
Still  by  the  single  eye  for  ever  found 

That  seeketh  none  besides. 

When  hewn  and  shaped  till  self  no  more  is 
found, 

Self,  ended  at  Thy  Cross ; 
The  precious  freed  from  all  the  vile  around, 

No  gain,  but  blessed  loss, 

Then    Christ    alone    remains  —  the    former 
things 
For  ever  passed  away ; 
And  unto  Him  the  heart  in  gladness  sings 
All  through  the  weary  day. 

H.  Suso. 


THE   VESSEL    OF    WROUGHT   GOLD  79 

THE  VESSEL  OF  WROUGHT  GOLD 
Heb.  vi.  19,  20. 

I  go  on  my  way  rejoicing, 

Though  weary  the  wilderness  road — 
I  go  on  my  way  rejoicing 

In  hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 

Oh  well  do  I  know  that  glory, 

That  Home  and  that  welcome  sweet, 

Where  above  the  mists  and  the  shadows 
With  the  heart  of  my  God  I  meet. 

There  the  ship  of  my  soul  is  harboured 
In  the  calm  of  the  crystal  sea, 

For  within  the  veil  is  the  anchor, 
Where  Jesus  has  entered  for  me. 

Awhile  in  the  earthen  vessel 
The  treasures  of  glory  gleam ; 

In  Heaven  the  fount  eternal, 
In  the  desert  the  living  stream. 

And  looking  on  Christ  in  glory, 

That  glory  so  still,  so  fair, 
There  passes  a  change  upon  me, 

Till  I  am  as  He  who  is  there. 


80  THE   VESSEL    OF    WROUGHT    GOLD 

Then  no  more  in  the  earthen  vessel 
The  treasure  of  God  shall  be, 

But  in  full  and  unclouded  beauty, 
O  Lord,  wilt  Thou  shine  through  me. 

Afar  through  the  golden  vessel 

Will  the  glory  of  God  shine  bright ; 

There  shall  be  no  need  for  the  sunshine, 
For  the  Lamb  shall  be  the  light. 

With  the  light  of  the  Stone  most  precious 
Shall  the  City  of  God  be  fair ; 

He  shall  shine  who  is  like  to  the  jasper 
In  His  cloudless  glory  there. 

Undimmed  in  that  wondrous  vessel, 

That  light  of  surpassing  love 
Shall  illumine  the  earth  in  its  gladness, 

And  shall  fill  the  heavens  above. 

All,  all  in  His  new  creation, 

The  glory  of  God  shall  see  ; 
And  the  lamp  for  that  light  eternal 

The  Bride  of  the  Lamb  shall  be. 

A  golden  lamp  in  the  heavens, 

That  all  may  see  and  adore 
The  Lamb  who  was  slain  and  who  liveth, 

Who  liveth  for  evermore. 


COMPANIONSHIP  8 1 


So  I  go  on  my  way  rejoicing 

That  the  heavens  and  earth  shall  see 
His  grace,  and  His  glory  and  beauty, 

In  the  depth  of  His  love  to  me. 


F.  M. 


COMPANIONSHIP 
John  xi,  35. 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord,  for  weary  days 
When  desert  springs  were  dry, 

And  first  we  knew  what  depth  of  need 
Thy  love  could  satisfy. 

Days  when  beneath  the  desert  sun, 

Along  the  toilsome  road, 
O'er  roughest  ways  we  walked  with  One. 

That  One  the  Son  of  God. 

We  thank  Thee  for  that  rest  in  Him 

The  weary  only  know — 
The  perfect,  wondrous  sympathy 

We  needs  must  learn  below  : 

The  sweet  companionship  of  One 

Who  once  the  desert  trod  ; 
The  glorious  fellowship  with  One 

Upon  the  throne  of  God ; 


82  COMPANIONSHIP 

The  joy  no  desolations  here 
Can  reach,  or  cloud,  or  dim — 

The  present  Lord,  the  living  God, 
And  we  alone  with  Him. 

We  know  Him  as  we  could  not  know 
Through  Heaven's  golden  years  ; 

We  there  shall  see  His  glorious  Face, 
But  Mary  saw  His  tears. 

The  touch  that  heals  the  broken  heart 

Is  never  felt  above  ; 
His  Angels  know  His  blessedness, 

His  way-worn  saints  His  love. 

When  in  the  glory  and  the  rest 

We  joyfully  adore, 
Remembering  the  desert  way 

We  yet  shall  praise  Him  more. 

Remembering  how,  amidst  our  toil, 

Our  conflict,  and  our  sin, 
He  brought  the  water  for  our  thirst 

It  cost  His  blood  to  win. 

And  now  in  perfect  peace  we  go 

Along  the  way  He  trod, 
Still  learning  from  all  need  below 

Depths  of  the  heart  of  God.  p.  h 


MY    WELCOME  83 

MY    WELCOME 

Luke  xv.  20. 

In  the  distant  land  of  famine, 

Craving  with  the  swine  to  feed ; 
Oh,  how  bitter  that  awakening 

To  my  sin,  and  shame,  and  need ! 
Dark  and  dreary  all  around  me, 

Now  no  more  by  sin  beguiled ; 
I  would  go  and  seek  my  Father, 

Be  a  bondsman,  not  a  child. 

Yet  a  great  way  off  He  saw  me, 

Ran  to  kiss  me  as  I  came ; 
As  I  was  my  Father  loved  me, 

Loved  me  in  my  sin  and  shame. 
Then  in  bitter  grief  I  told  Him 

Of  the  evil  I  had  done — 
Sinned  in  scorn  of  Him,  my  Father, 

Was  not  meet  to  be  His  son. 

But  I  know  not  if  He  listened, 
For  He  spake  not  of  my  sin — 

He  within  His  house  would  have  me, 
Make  me  meet  to  enter  in  ; 


84  MY    WELCOMB 

From  the  riches  of  His  glory 

Brought  His  costliest  raiment  forth, 

Brought  the  ring  that  sealed  His  purpose, 
Shoes  to  tread  His  golden  courts. 

Put  them  on  me — robes  of  glory, 

Spotless  as  the  heavens  above ; 
Not  to  meet  my  thoughts  of  fitness, 

But  His  wondrous  thoughts  of  love. 
Then  within  His  home  He  led  me, 

Brought  me  where  the  feast  was  spread, 
Made  me  eat  with  Him,  my  Father, 

I,  who  begged  for  bondsman's  bread  ! 

Not  a  suppliant  at  His  gateway, 

But  a  son  within  His  home ; 
To  the  love,  the  joy,  the  singing, 

To  the  glory  I  am  come. 
Gathered  round  that  wondrous  temple, 

Filled  with  awe  His  Angels  see 
Glory  lighting  up  the  Holiest, 

In  that  glory  Him  and  me. 

There  He  dwells,  in  me  rejoicing 
Love  resplendent  in  His  Face — 

There  I  dwell,  in  Him  rejoicing, 
None  but  I  can  know  His  grace. 


"it  is  finished"  85 

To  His  blessed  inner  chamber, 
Ground  no  other  foot  can  tread, 

Be  has  brought  the  lost  and  found  one, 
Him  who  liveth,  and  was  dead. 

This  the  ransomed  sinner's  story, 

All  the  Father's  heart  made  known™ 
All  His  grace  to  me  the  sinner, 

Told  by  judgment  on  His  Son — 
Told  by  Him  from  depths  of  anguish, 

All  the  Father's  love  for  me, 
By  the  curse,  the  cross,  the  darkness, 

Measuring  what  that  love  must  be. 

T.  P. 


"IT  IS  FINISHED" 
1  Cor.  vi.  11. 

He  found  me  the  lost  and  the  wandering, 
The  sinful,  the  sad,  and  the  lone ; 

He  said,  "  I  have  bought  thee,  beloved, 
For  ever  thou  art  Mine  own. 

"  0  soul,  I  will  show  thee  the  wonder, 
The  worth  of  My  priceless  Blood ; 

Thou  art  whiter  than  snow  on  the  mountains, 
Thou  art  fair  in  the  eyes  of  God. 


86        "beyond  the  brightness  of  the  sun" 

"  0  vessel  of  living  water, 

From  the  depths  of  the  love  divine, 
The  glorious  life  within  thee 

Flows  from  My  heart  to  thine. 

"  0  soul  altogether  lovely, 

0  pearl  for  which  Christ  was  given, 
Wouldst  thou  know  the  joy  and  the  glory 

That  welcome  thee  into  Heaven  ? 

"  Wouldst  thou  know  how  near  to  the  Father 
The  place  that  is  granted  thee  ? 

Behold  Me,  O  soul,  in  His  bosom, 
And  measure  His  love  to  Me. 

"  Are  the  love,  and  the  joy,  and  the  glory 
More  than  My  Blood  could  win  ? 

In  the  Name  of  the  Son  Beloved, 
Beloved  one,  enter  in."  v.  m.  c. 

11  BEYOND  THE  BRIGHTNESS 
OF  THE  SUN" 

Acts  xxii.  n. 

1  was  journeying  in  the  noontide, 
When  His  light  shone  o'er  my  road ; 

And  I  saw  Him  in  that  glory — 
Saw  Him — Jesus,  Son  of  God. 


"beyond  the  brightness  of  the  sun"       87 

All  around,  in  noonday  splendour, 
Earthly  scenes  lay  fair  and  bright ; 

But  my  eyes  no  more  behold  them 
For  the  glory  of  that  light. 

Others  in  the  summer  sunshine 

Wearily  may  journey  on, 
I  have  seen  a  light  from  heaven, 

Past  the  brightness  of  the  sun — 
Light  that  knows  no  cloud,  no  waning, 

Light  wherein  I  see  His  Face, 
All  His  love's  uncounted  treasures, 

All  the  riches  of  His  grace : 

All  the  wonders  of  His  glory, 

Deeper  wonders  of  His  love — 
How  for  me  He  won,  He  keepeth 

That  high  place  in  Heaven  above  ; 
Not  a  glimpse — the  veil  uplifted — 

But  within  the  veil  to  dwell, 
Gazing  on  His  Face  for  ever, 

Hearing  words  unspeakable. 

Marvel  not  that  Christ  in  glory 
All  my  inmost  heart  hath  won ; 

Not  a  star  to  cheer  my  darkness, 
But  a  light  beyond  the  sua. 


88       "beyond  the  brightness  of  the  sun" 

All  below  lies  dark  and  shadowed, 
Nothing  there  to  claim  my  heart, 

Save  the  lonely  track  of  sorrow 
Where  of  old  He  walked  apart. 

I  have  seen  the  Face  of  Jesus — 

Tell  me  not  of  aught  beside ; 
I  have  heard  the  Voice  of  Jesus — 

All  my  soul  is  satisfied. 
In  the  radiance  of  the  glory 

First  I  saw  His  blessed  Face, 
And  for  ever  shall  that  glory 

Be  my  home,  my  dwelling-place. 

Sinners,  it  was  not  to  Angels 

All  this  wondrous  love  was  given, 
But  to  one  who  scorned,  despised  Him, 

Scorned  and  hated  Christ  in  heaven. 
From  the  lowest  depths  of  darkness 

To  His  city's  radiant  height, 
Thus  in  me  He  told  the  measure 

Of  His  love  and  His  delight. 

t.  p. 


EMMANUEl/s    LAND  89 

EMMANUELS  LAND 
Deut.  viii.  7-10. 

The  land  !  the  glory  of  all  lands, 

Beyond  the  Jordan's  wave  ; 
Beyond  the  weary  desert  sands — 

The  land  beyond  the  grave ! 
Now  safe  within  that  glorious  land, 

We  prove  His  faithful  Word  ; 
'Midst  Canaan's  golden  fields  we  stand, 

The  ransomed  of  the  Lord. 

Amidst  the  burning  desert  drought 

We  learnt  His  watchful  love ; 
Streams  from  the  flinty  rocks  He  brought, 

Sent  bread  from  Heaven  above. 
Our  God  in  weariness  and  need, 

His  love  was  measured  there 
By  hunger  which  His  hand  would  feed, 

Wants  answered  by  His  care. 

Now  know  we  in  Emmanuel's  land 

Immeasurable  grace ; 
No  longer  looking  to  His  Hand, 

But  gazing  on  His  Face. 


90  Emmanuel's  land 

Our  need,  ourselves,  forgotten  there, 

Himself  our  hearts  adore  ; 
The  fulness  of  His  joy  we  share, 

His  pleasures  evermore : 

His  joy  fulfilled  in  us  who  tread 

That  land  His  love  has  given ; 
We  followed  where  His  footsteps  led, 

And  found  ourselves  in  heaven. 
No  lower  resting-place  beseemed 

The  well-beloved  Son, 
And  on  our  wondering  eyes  has  beamed 

The  glory  that  He  won. 

No  lower  resting-place  ;  and  we — 

Are  we  content  to  stand 
And  look  afar  from  Pisgahs  heights 

Upon  that  goodly  land  ? 
There,  where  the  Shepherd  goes  before, 

The  sheep  must  follow  on  : 
How  green,  how  fresh  the  pastures  fair 

Where  Christ  the  Lord  is  gone ! 

One  spirit  with  our  glorious  Lord, 

Our  joy  to  Him  is  sweet, 
As  to  His  heart  the  love  that  poured 

The  ointment  on  His  feet. 


THE   BRIDE  9 1 

How  dear  to  Him  the  fellowship 
That  owned  Him  in  the  tomb — 

How  dear  to  Him  the  fellowship 
That  shares  His  blessed  Home  I 

That  shares  in  glory,  far  above 

The  waste  so  dark  and  dim, 
The  sweetness  of  the  Father's  love 

In  unison  with  Him. 
In  Him  we  tread  those  radiant  heights, 

His  endless  joy  our  own  ; 
The  fall  deep  tide  of  God's  delights 

He  would  not  drink  alone.  p.  g. 


THE    BRIDE 
John  xiv.  3. 

'Midst  the  darkness,  storm,  and  sorrow, 

One  bright  gleam  I  see  ; 
Well  I  know  the  blessed  morrow 

Christ  will  come  for  me. 

'Midst  the  light,  and  peace,  and  glory 

Of  the  Father's  home, 
Christ  for  me  is  watching,  waiting, 

Waiting  till  I  come. 


9?  THE    8KIDE 

Long  the  blessed  Guide  has  led  me 

By  the  desert  road  ; 
Now  I  see  the  golden  towers, 

City  of  my  God. 

There,  amidst  the  love  and  glory, 

He  is  waiting  yet ; 
On  His  hands  a  name  is  graven 

He  can  ne'er  forget. 

There,  amidst  the  songs  of  heaven, 

Sweeter  to  His  ear 
Is  the  footfall  through  the  desert, 

Ever  drawing  near. 

There,  made  ready  are  the  mansions, 

Radiant,  still,  and  fair ; 
But  the  Bride  the  Father  gave  Him 

Yet  is  wanting  there. 

Who  is  this  who  comes  to  meet  me 

On  the  desert  way, 
As  the  Morning  Star  foretelling 

Gods  unclouded  day ? 

He  it  is  who  came  to  win  me 

On  the  Cross  of  shame ; 
In  His  glory  well  I  know  Him 

Evermore  the  same. 


THE    BRIBK  93 

Oh  the  blessed  joy  of  meeting, 

All  the  desert  past ! 
Oh  the  wondrous  words  of  greeting 

He  shall  speak  at  last ! 

He  and  I  together  entering 

Those  fair  courts  above — 
He  and  I  together  sharing 

All  the  Father's  love. 

Where  no  shade  nor  stain  can  enter. 

Nor  the  gold  be  dim, 
In  that  holiness  unsullied, 

I  shall  walk  with  Him. 

Meet  companion  then  for  Jesus, 
From  Him,  for  Him,  made — 

Glory  of  God's  grace  for  ever 
There  in  me  displayed. 

He  who  in  His  hour  of  sorrow 

Bore  the  curse  alone ; 
I  who  through  the  lonely  desert 

Trod  where  He  had  gone ; 

He  and  I,  in  that  bright  glory, 

One  deep  joy  shall  share — 
Mine,  to  be  for  ever  with  Him ; 

His,  that  I  am  there.  p.  g. 


94  AMBASSADORS    FOR    CHRIST 

AMBASSADORS  FOR  CHRIST 
John  xx.  21. 

"  Who  are  these  who  come  amongst  us, 
Strangers  to  our  speech  and  ways  ? 

Passing  by  our  joys  and  treasures, 
Singing  in  the  darkest  days  ? 

Are  they  pilgrims  journeying  on 

From  a  land  we  have  not  known  ? " 

We  are  come  from  a  far  country, 
From  a  land  beyond  the  sun ; 

We  are  come  from  that  great  glory 
Round  our  God's  eternal  throne : 

Thence  we  come,  and  thither  go ; 

Here  no  resting-place  we  know. 

Far  within  the  depth  of  glory, 
In  the  Father's  house  above, 

We  have  learnt  His  wondrous  secret, 
We  have  learnt  His  heart  of  love : 

We  have  seen  and  we  have  shared 

That  bright  joy  He  hath  prepared. 


AMBASSADORS    FOR    CHRIST  9$ 

We  have  seen  the  golden  city 
Shining  as  the  jasper  stone  ; 
Heard  the  song  that  fills  the  heavens 

Of  the  Man  upon  the  throne ; 
Well  that  glorious  One  we  know- 
He  hath  sent  us  here  below. 

We  have  drunk  the  living  waters, 
On  the  Tree  of  Life  have  fed ; 

Therefore  deathless  do  we  journey 
'Midst  the  dying  and  the  dead ; 

And  unthirsting  do  we  stand 

Here  amidst  the  barren  sand. 

Round  us,  as  a  cloud  of  glory 
Lighting  up  the  midnight  road, 

Falls  the  light  from  that  bright  city, 
Showing  us  where  He  has  trod  ; 

All  that  here  might  please  the  sight 

Lost  in  that  eternal  light. 

"  Wherefore  are  ye  come  amongst  us 
From  the  glory  to  the  gloom  ? " 

Christ  in  glory  breathed  within  us 
Life,  His  life,  and  bid  us  come. 

Here  as  living  springs  to  be — 

Fountains  of  that  life  are  we. 


9&  AMBASSADORS    FOR    CHRIST 

Fountains  of  the  life  that  floweth 
Ever  downwards  from  the  throne, 

Witnesses  of  that  bright  glory 
Where,  rejected,  He  is  gone, 

Sent  to  give  the  blind  their  sight, 

Turn  the  darkness  into  light. 

There,  amidst  the  joy  eternal, 
Is  the  Man  who  went  above, 

Bearing  marks  of  all  the  hatred 
Of  the  world  He  sought  in  love. 

He  has  sent  us  here  to  tell 

Of  His  love  unchangeable. 

He  hath  sent  us,  that  in  sorrow, 

In  rejection,  toil,  and  loss, 
We  may  learn  the  wondrous  sweetness, 

Learn  the  mystery  of  His  cross — 
Learn  the  depth  of  love  that  traced 
That  blest  path  across  the  waste. 

He  hath  sent  us  highest  honours 
Of  His  cross  and  shame  to  win, 

Bear  His  light  through  deepest  darkness, 
Walk  in  white  'midst  foulest  sin ; 

Sing  amidst  the  wintry  gloom, 

Sing  the  blessed  songs  of  home. 


THE    PARADISE    OF   GOD  97 

From  the  dark  and  troubled  waters 
Many  a  pearl  to  Him  we  bear ; 

Golden  sheaves  we  bring  with  singing, 
Fulness  of  His  joy  we  share ; 

And  our  pilgrim  journey  o'er, 

Praise  with  Him  for  evermore. 

T.  P 


THE  PARADISE  OF  GOD 
Gen.  ii.  18 ;  Eph.  v.  32. 

In  the  Paradise  of  glory 

Is  the  Man  Divine ; 
There  my  heart,  0  God,  is  tasting 

Fellowship  with  Thine. 
Called  to  share  Thy  joy  unmeasured, 

Now  is  heaven  begun ; 
I  rejoice  with  Thee,  O  Father, 

In  Thy  glorious  Son. 

Where  the  heart  of  God  is  resting, 

I  have  found  my  rest ; 
Christ  who  found  me  in  the  desert, 

Laid  me  on  His  breast. 

a 


98  THE    PARADISE    OF    GOD 

There  in  deep  unhindered  fulness 

Doth  my  joy  flow  free — 
On  through  everlasting  ages, 

Lord,  beholding  Thee. 

Round  me  is  creation  groaning, 

Death,  and  sin,  and  care ; 
But  there  is  a  rest  remaining, 

And  my  Lord  is  there, 
There  I  find  a  blessed  stillness 

In  His  courts  of  love ; 
All  below  but  strife  and  darkness, 

Cloudless  peace  above. 

'Tis  a  solitary  pathway 

To  that  fair  retreat — 
Where  in  deep  and  sweet  communion 

Sit  I  at  His  feet. 
In  that  glorious  isolation, 

Loneliness  how  blest, 
From  the  windy  storm  and  tempest 

Have  I  found  my  rest. 

Learning  from  Thy  lips  for  ever 

All  the  Father's  heart, 
Thou  hast,  in  that  joy  eternal, 

Chosen  me  my  part 


THE   OUTCAST  99 

There,  where  Jesus,  Jesus  only, 
Fills  each  heart  and  tongue, 

Where  Himself  is  all  the  radiance 
And  Himself  the  song. 

Here,  who  follows  Him  the  nearest, 

Needs  must  walk  alone  ; 
There  like  many  seas  the  chorus, 

Praise  surrounds  the  throne. 
Here  a  dark  and  silent  pathway ; 

In  those  courts  so  fair 
Countless  hosts,  yet  eadi  beholding  ■ 

Jesus  only,  there. 


THE  OUTCAST 

Matt.  viii.  20. 

For  Him  the  wilderness  did  not  sing, 
Nor  the  desolate  place  rejoice — 

Nor  as  the  rose  did  the  desert  bloom, 
Nor  the  wastes  lift  up  their  voice. 

The  glory  of  Lebanon  was  not  there, 
Nor  the  shittah  nor  myrtle  sweet ; 

Nor  was  the  place  of  His  sojourning  fair, 
Nor  glorious  the  place  of  His  feet. 


100  THE   OUTCAST 

Through  the  great  and  terrible  waste  He  trod, 
Where  water  springs  were  none — 

In  the  weary  desert  alone  with  God, 
And  His  heritage  God  alone. 

No  way  in  the  desert  prepared  for  Him, 
Nor  the  mountains  and  hills  made  low— 

Nor  the  crooked  straight,  nor  the  rough  ways 
plain, 
Where  His  pilgrim  feet  must  go. 

0  Father,  Thy  care  is  not  to  make 

The  desert  a  waste  no  more, 
But  to  keep  our  feet  lest  we  lose  the  track 

Where  His  feet  went  before. 

Thou  carest  not  that  the  rose  should  bloom, 
Nor  the  myrtle  where  we  must  tread ; 

Nor  to  make  the  fir  and  the  cedar  tree 
A  shadow  above  our  head. 

But  Thou  carest  that  through  the  golden 
street 
We  walk  in  the  light  above, 
That  we    sit    in    His    shadow   with   great 
delight, 
And  feed  on  the  fruit  of  His  love. 


THE   OUTCAST  IOI 

Thou  carest  that  in  the  pastures  green, 

Where  the  life  eternal  flows, 
In  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of  our  God, 

We  should  find  our  deep  repose. 

Thou  carest  not  to  give  desert  songs, 
Where  through  the  wilds  we  roam, 

But  a  golden  Psalm  hast  Thou  put  in  our 
mouths 
To  sing  in  our  Father's  Home. 

Whilst  yet  we  walk  through  the  weary  land, 
Where  we  bear  the  outcast  name, 

Where  the  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds 
have  nests, 
And  our  Lord  the  cross  of  shame, 

Apart  from  all  in  the  joy  we  dwell 
Which  the  eye  hath  never  seen — 

Tis  a  dry  and  a  thirsty  land  below, 
But  there  the  fields  are  green. 

Where  He  is  no  more  the  outcast  Man, 

But  the  Lamb  whom  all  adore, 
There  is  now  the  place  of  our  joy  and  song, 

And  shall  be  for  evermore. 

F.   ML 


102  "BANDS    OF    L0V1 


"BANDS  OF  LOVE* 
Ruth  i.  16,  17. 

A  homeless  Stranger  amongst  us  came 
To  this  land  of  death  and  mourning  ; 

He  walked  in  a  path  of  sorrow  and  shame, 
Through  insult,  and  hate,  and  scorning. 

A  Man  of  sorrows,  of  toil  and  tears, 

An  outcast  Man  and  a  lonely ; 
But  He  looked  on  me,  and  through  endless 
years 

Him  must  I  love — Him  only. 

Then  from  this  sad  and  sorrowful  land, 
From  this  land  of  tears  He  departed ; 

But  the  light  of  His  eyes  and  the  touch  of 
His  hand 
Had  left  me  broken-hearted. 

And  I  clave  to  Him  as  He  turned  His  face 
From  the  land  that  was  mine  no  longer — 

The  land  I  had  loved  in  the  ancient  days, 
Ere  T  knew  the  love  that  was  stronger. 


"  BANDS   OF   LOVE  IO3 

And  I  would  abide  where  He  abode, 

And  follow  His  steps  for  ever ; 
His  people  my  people,  His  God  my  God, 

In  the  land  beyond  the  river. 

And  where  He  died  would  I  also  die, 
Far  dearer  a  grave  beside  Him 

Than  a  kingly  place  amongst  living  men, 
The  place  which  they  denied  Him. 

Then  afar  and  afar  did  I  follow  Him  on, 
To  the  land  where  He  was  going — 

To  the  depths  of  glory  beyond  the  sun, 
Where  the  golden  fields  were  glowing — 

The  golden  harvest  of  endless  joy, 
The  joy  He  had  sown  in  weeping; 

How  can  I  tell  the  blest  employ, 
The  songs  of  that  glorious  reaping ! 

The  recompense  sweet,  the  full  reward, 
Which  the  Lord  His  God  has  given ; 

At  rest  beneath  the  wings  of  the  Lord, 
At  home  in  the  courts  of  heaven. 

p.  G. 


104  THE   SECRET    OF    THE    LORD 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  LORD 
i  Cor.  xi.  9 ;  Eph  v.  23. 

In  the  depths  of  His  bright  glory, 
Where  the  heavens  rejoice, 

I  have  seen  Him,  I  have  known  Him, 
I  have  heard  His  voice. 

He  has  told  me  how  He  sought  me 

In  the  cloudy  day, 
On  the  waste  and  lonely  mountains 

Very  far  away. 

Words  unutterable  He  speaketh, 
Words  that  none  can  tell ; 

Yet,  O  Lord,  Thy  wondrous  secret 
Knows  my  heart  full  well. 

I,  in  wonder  and  in  silence, 

Listen  and  adore, 
Whilst  the  heart  of  God  He  tells  me — 

Whilst  my  cup  runs  o'er. 

Blessed  light,  within  my  dwelling, 

In  the  darkest  day ; 
Blessed  speech,  as  music  sounding 

All  along  the  way. 


THE  SECRET  OF  THE  LORD  IOJ 

Is  it  sweet  to  know  He  careth 

For  my  smallest  need — 
Know  that  He  will  ever  tend  me, 

Watch,  and  guard,  and  feed  ? 

Yet  unutterably  sweeter, 

Wondrous  though  it  be, 
His  desire  is  toward  me ; 

He  had  need  of  me ! 

Not  for  me  is  He  in  glory, 

I  for  Him  am  there, 
In  the  garden  of  His  pleasures 

His  delight  to  share. 

Not  to  shield  my  path  from  sorrows 

Is  His  care  and  thought ; 
Not  to  make  the  dark  world  brighter 

Where  Himself  is  not. 

But  to  have  me  there  beside  Him 

In  the  love  and  light, 
There  to  tell  my  heart  how  precious 

Am  I  in  His  sight. 

There  His  heart's  deep  love  disclosing, 

Told  in  words  divine  ; 
I  have  known  His  joy  in  saying, 

"  Thou  art  ever  Mine." 


106  RIVERS    IN    THE    DESERT 

Lost  in  silent  love  and  wonder, 
There  my  soul  abides  ; 

Portion  blest  beyond  all  telling — 
Christ,  and  nought  besides. 


T.  F. 


RIVERS  IN  THE  DESERT 
Rev  xxii.  i. 

Glorious  River  of  God's  pleasures, 
Well  of  God's  eternal  bliss, 

Thirsting  now  no  more  for  ever. 
Tread  we  this  waste  wilderness. 

O  for  words  divine  to  tell  it, 
How  along  that  River  s  brink, 

Come  the  weak,  the  worn,  the  weary, 
There  the  tides  of  joy  to  drink  ! 

"  Drink  abundantly,  beloved," 
Speaks  the  Voice  so  sweet  and  still 

"  Of  the  life,  and  love,  and  glory, 
Freely  come  and  drink  your  fill/' 

Every  longing  stilled  for  ever, 
As  the  face  of  God  we  see — 

Whom  besides  have  we  in  heaven, 
Or  desire  on  earth  but  Thee  ? 


RIVERS    IN    THE    DESERT  107 

All  the  weariness,  the  sorrow 
Of  the  way  that  we  have  gone, 

Passed  away  in  His  bright  presence, 
As  the  night  before  the  sun. 

Nor  alone  the  gloom  and  darkness — 
Earlier  joys  have  passed  away, 

As  the  stars  in  glowing  sunrise 
Lose  themselves  in  golden  day. 

And  alone — alone  before  us, 

Christ  in  cloudless  radiance  stands, 

On  His  head  the  crowns  of  glory, 
And  the  nail-prints  in  His  hands. 

There  the  mystery  of  Thy  passion, 
There  Thy  Cross,  0  Lord,  we  see, 

Whence  the  River  of  God's  pleasures 
Flows,  a  fountain  fresh  and  free. 

Waters  of  eternal  gladness 
Won  for  us  at  countless  price ; 

Lo  !  the  desert  is  God's  garden, 
And  the  wastes  are  Paradise. 

From  that  Cross  and  glory  turning, 
Can  our  eyes  see  aught  beside  ? 

Strangers  here — the  desert  round  us, 
There,  for  ever  satisfied. 

T.  P. 


I08  (TO-MORROW 

TO-MO  R  R  O  W 
Matt.  xiii.  45,  46. 

The  little  while !  how  nearly  gone, 

And  then  my  eyes  shall  see 
How  God  delighted  in  His  Son, 

By  all  He  gives  to  me. 
Yet  grace,  all  other  grace  above, 

Beyond  our  hearts  to  dream — 
By  giving  me  He  tells  that  love 

By  giving  me  to  Him. 

The  Son,  who  in  His  bosom  dwells 

In  God's  eternal  rest — 
The  Son  to  whom  His  Heart  He  tells, 

With  Him  for  ever  blest — 
For  that  beloved  Son  He  still 

A  joy  can  keep  in  store  ; 
His  cup  of  love,  so  sweet,  so  full 

Shall  yet  be  filled  the  more. 

There  is  a  pearl  that  shines  not  yet 
In  radiance  on  His  brow ; 

There  is  a  morn  for  which  He  waits 
Amidst  His  glory  now — 


TO-MORROW  tog 

The  recompense  for  weary  years, 
For  shame  and  toil  and  scorn ; 

For  depths  of  sorrow,  bitterest  tears, 
That  fair  and  cloudless  morn. 

The  gladness  of  His  heart  to  be, 

In  that  bright  mornings  gleam, 
For  this  Thy  hand  has  fashioned  me, 

Has  made  me  meet  for  Him. 
The  spikenard  and  the  cinnamon, 

Trees  pleasant  in  Thy  sight, 
Thy  hand  has  planted  for  the  Son, 

In  whom  is  Thy  delight. 

And  oh  the  grace  divine  that  we, 

The  trees  of  God,  should  stand 
All  fair  in  Christ's  own  eyes  to  be, 

In  that  eternal  land  ! 
For  Him  those  courts  of  crystal  gold, 

For  Him  that  garden  fair — 
The  Father's  love  in  fulness  told 

By  us  presented  there. 

All  faultless  in  the  light  that  shines 

Full  from  the  face  of  God  ; 
The  witness,  perfect  and  divine, 

To  Christ's  most  precious  Blood, 


HO  BROUGHT   NIGH 

His  own  exceeding  joy  to  be, 
His  hearts  delight  and  bliss — 

Oh,  well  to  cross  the  midnight  sea 
To  such  a  shore  as  this ! 

T.  P. 

BROUGHT   NIGH 

Heb.  x.  19. 

No  more  veil !  God  bids  me  enter 
By  the  new  and  living  way — 

Not  in  trembling  hope  I  venture, 
Boldly  I  His  call  obey ; 

There,  with  Him,  my  God,  I  meet 

God  upon  the  mercy-seat ! 

In  the  robes  of  spotless  whiteness, 
With  the  Blood  of  priceless  worth, 

He  has  gone  into  that  brightness, 
Christ  rejected  from  the  earth — 

Christ  accepted  there  on  high, 

And  in  Him  do  I  draw  nigh. 

Oh  the  welcome  I  have  found  there, 
God  in  all  His  love  made  known  ! 

Oh  the  glory  that  surrounds  there 
Those  accepted  in  His  Son ! 

Who  can  tell  the  depths  of  bliss 

Spoken  by  the  Fathers  kiss ? 


BROUGHT   NIGH  III 

All  His  joy  told  out  unhindered, 
Nought  but  Christ  His  eye  can  see ; 

Christ  into  His  joy  has  entered, 
And  in  Christ  He  welcomes  me. 

Would  I  know  how  dear  to  God  ? 

Priceless,  as  Christ's  precious  blood. 

u  There,"  He  saith,  "  and  thus  I  meet  thee, 

On  the  mercy-seat  above ; 
There  I  commune  with  thee,  greet  thee, 

Tell  thee  all  thy  Father's  love- 
There  thy  blest  reward  shall  be 
All  that  Jesus  is  to  Me." 

One  with  Him,  O  Lord,  before  Thee, 

There  I  live,  and  yet  not  I ; 
Christ  it  is  who  there  adores  Thee ; 

Who  more  dear,  or  who  more  nigh  ? 
All  the  Father's  heart  mine  own- 
Mine — and  yet  His  Son's  alone. 

Place  of  glory,  place  of  blessing, 

Place  where  God  His  heart  displays, 

All  in  Thee,  O  Christ,  possessing, 

Thine  the  voice  that  leads  our  praise  ; 

Thine  the  new  eternal  song, 

Through  the  ages  borne  along. 


112  THE    INNER    CHAMBER 

As  within  His  Temple  olden, 
Was  there  seen  no  costly  stone,* 

Nought  but  cedar,  carved  and  golden, 
Nought  but  Christ,  and  Christ  alone— 

So  the  stones  so  dearly  bought, 

God  in  heaven  beholds  them  not. 

All  the  worth  I  have  before  Him 

Is  the  value  of  the  Blood  ; 
I  present  when  I  adore  Him, 

Christ,  the  First-fruits,  unto  God. 
Him  with  joy  doth  God  behold, 
Thus  is  my  acceptance  told. 


THE  INNER  CHAMBER 
Ps.  xc.  i. 

My  Beloved,  from  earth's  many  voices 
Welcome  me  to  Thy  seclusion  sweet — 

Let  me  still,  and  restful,  and  adoring, 
Sit  with  Mary  at  Thy  blessed  Feet — 

In  Thy  secret  place,  alone  with  Thee, 

None  beside  to  hear,  and  none  to  see. 

*  i  Kings  vi  i& 


THE    INNER   CHAMBER  I  13 

Led    by  wandering    gleams    o'er   fen    and 
moorland, 

What  are  we,  outwearied  at  our  best  ? 
For  the  heart  amidst  the  world's  allurings 

Craveth  evermore  for  God  and  rest — 
God  and  rest — all  else  the  weary  load 
Of  a  toiler  on  an  endless  road. 

Blessed  he,  who  from  the  strife  has  entered 
God's  fair  Home  of  peace  for  evermore — 

Sounds  of  the  great  world's  confusion  mur- 
muring 
As  the  sea  upon  a  distant  shore  ; 

Here,  ere  yet  his  earthly  day  is  done, 

His  eternal  task  of  love  begun. 

In  the  desert  still,  yet  by  the  river 
Bearing  heavenly  fruit,  a  healing  tree ; 

In  the  Spirit  and  in  truth  adoring 

Him  whom  none  but  eyes  anointed  see — 

Marvels  of  Gods  secret  place  made  known 

Unto  him  who  dwells  with  God  alone, — 

There  the  lonely  heart  His  sweetness  learneth, 

Sheltered  there  beneath    the  shadowing 

wings — 

h 


114  LIGHT    OF    A    STONE    MOST    PRECIOUS 

In  the  depths  of  hidden  rest  encompassed 

By  the  tender  gleams  of  heavenly  things ; 
Who  amidst  the  worlds  sad  mirth  can  tell, 
What  it  is  apart  in  God  to  dwell  ? 

G.  T.  s. 


LIGHT  OF  A  STONE  MOST  PRECIOUS 

2  Cor.  iv.  6,  7. 

God  in  heaven  hath  a  treasure, 

Riches  none  may  count  or  tell ; 
Hath  a  deep  eternal  pleasure, 

Christ,  the  Son  He  loveth  well. 
God  hath  here  on  earth  a  treasure, 

None  but  He  its  price  may  know — 
Deep  unfathomable  pleasure, 

Christ  revealed  in  saints  below. 

Christ,  the  light  that  fills  the  heavens 

Shining  forth  on  earth  beneath, 
Through  His  Spirit  freely  given 

Light  of  life  'midst  shades  of  death ; 
Down  from  heaven's  unclouded  glory 

God  Himself  the  treasure  brought, 
Closing  thus  His  love's  sweet  story 

With  His  sweetest,  deepest  thought 


LIGHT   OF    A   STONE   MOST   PRECIOUS  115 

God,  in  tongues  of  fire  descending, 

Chosen  vessels  thus  to  fill 
With  the  treasure  never  ending, 

Ever  spent — unfailing  still. 
Still  unwasted,  undiminished, 

Though  the  days  of  dearth  wear  on, 
Store  eternally  unfinished — 

Fresh,  as  if  but  now  begun. 

Earthen  vessels,  marred,  unsightly, 

But  the  treasure  as  of  old, 
Fresh  from  glory,  gleaming  brightly, 

Heaven's  undimmed,  unchanging  gold, 
God's  own  hand  the  vessel  filling 

From  the  glory  far  above, 
Longing  hearts  for  ever  stilling 

With  those  riches  of  His  love. 

Thus,  through  earthen  vessels  only, 

Shining  forth  in  ceaseless  grace, 
Reaching  weary  hearts  and  lonely, 

Beams  the  light  in  Jesu's  face. 
Vessels  worthless,  broken,  bearing 

Through  the  hungry  ages  on, 
Riches  given  with  hand  unsparing, 

Gods  great  gift,  His  precious  Son. 


116  THE   BORDER   OF    HIS   SANCTUARY 

Thus,  though  worn,  and  tried,  and  tempted, 

Glorious  calling,  saint,  is  thine ; 
Can  the  Lord  but  find  thee  emptied, 

That  is  all  He  seeks  to  find. 
Vessels  of  the  world's  despising, 

Vessels  weak,  and  poor,  and  base, 
Bearing  wealth  God's  heart  is  prizing, 

Glory  from  Christ's  blessed  Face. 

Oh  to  be  but  emptier,  lowlier, 

Mean,  unnoticed,  and  unknown, 
And  to  God  a  vessel  holier, 

Filled  with  Christ,  and  Christ  alone ! 
Nought  of  earth  to  cloud  the  glory, 

Nought  of  self  the  light  to  dim, 
Telling  forth  His  wondrous  story, 

Emptied — to  be  filled  with  Him  ! 

P.  G. 


THE  BORDER  OF  HIS  SANCTUARY 
Is.  xxxiii.  17. 

Glorious  and  solemn  hour, 

Thus  at  last  to  stand, 
All  behind  us  the  great  desert, 

All  before,  the  land  ! 


THE  BORDER  OF  HIS  SANCTUARY       117 

Past  the  shadows  of  the  valley, 

Past  the  weary  plain ; 
Past  the  rugged  mountain  pathway, 

Ne'er  to  be  again. 

And  before  us,  ever  stretching 

In  its  golden  sheen, 
Lies  the  fair,  the  blessed  country 

Where  our  hearts  have  been — 
Where  our  hearts  have  been  whilst  wandering 

Through  the  desert  bare ; 
For  the  soul's  adored,  beloved  One, 

He  abideth  there. 

Clad  in  love  and  glory  stands  He 

On  that  glowing  shore, 
There  to  speak  the  blessed  welcome, 

All  our  journeyings  o'er. 
Now  at  last  our  eyes  behold  Him, 

At  His  feet  we  fall ; 
Two  and  three  have  we  adored  Him, 

Now  are  gathered  all. 

All  His  saints  from  all  the  ages, 

Every  clime  and  tongue, 
All  together  now  we  worship 

In  a  faultless  song. 


Il8  THE    BORDER  OP    HIS    SANCTUARY 

In  the  song  no  discord  troubles 

And  no  weakness  mars, 
Sound  we  loud  His  Name  beloved 

Far  beyond  the  stars. 

That  blest  song,  first  sung  in  glory 

By  His  lips  divine, 
Now,  in  chorus  deep  and  endless 

All  his  ransomed  join. 
Glorious  and  solemn  hour, 

On  the  verge  to  stand 
Of  that  endless  day  of  worship, 

Of  that  blessed  land ! 

Not  our  sorrow  we  remember, 

All  is  lost  in  bliss — 
But  our  shame  gives  deeper  sweetness 

To  the  Father's  kiss. 
Shame — that  all  that  desert  journey 

Nothing  more  could  prove 
Than  the  marvels  of  His  patience, 

How  divine  His  love. 

Tale  of  weakness,  sin,  and  folly, 

Tale  of  wandering  feet — 
Tale  of  strength,  and  grace,  and  wisdom, 

Victory  complete. 


THE    BORDER    OF    HIS   SANCTUARY  119 

Sin  and  death  and  Satan  trodden 

'Neath  those  feet  at  length, 
In  the  glory  of  His  triumph, 

Greatness  of  His  strength. 

Solemn  hour — thus  on  the  margin 

Of  that  wondrous  day, 
When  the  former  things  have  vanished, 

Old  things  passed  away. 
Nothing  but  Himself  before  us, 

Every  shadow  past — 
Sound  we  loud  our  word  of  witness, 

For  it  is  the  last- 
One  last  word  of  solemn  warning 

To  the  world  below — 
One  loud  shout,  that  all  may  hear  us 

Hail  Him  ere  we  go ! 
Once  more  let  that  Name  be  sounded 

With  a  trumpet  tone — 
Here,  amidst  the  thickening  darkness, 

Then,  before  the  throne. 

9.  w. 


120  THE    DIVINE    LOVE 

THE  DIVINE  LOVE 
John  xvii.  26. 

At  the  Lord's  right  hand  there  are  pleasures, 
There  are  treasures  for  evermore — 

In  the  depths  of  Thy  glory  are  treasures, 
A  measureless,  priceless  store. 

0  God,  we  have  shared  Thy  pleasures, 
Thy  treasures  of  countless  price, 

Those  joys  that  no  thought  can  measure, 
For  all  are  Christ. 

That  cup  of  Thy  love  and  gladness 

Has  cheered  us  along  the  road, 
Through  ages  of  sin  and  of  sadness 

Partaking  the  joys  of  God — 
Through  Thy  Spirit  sent  down  from  heaven 

Thy  Christ  to  our  hearts  is  dear ; 
The  Spirit  who  tells  of  His  sweetness 
Is  with  us  here. 

Thus  false  though  our  hearts  and  faithless, 
We  love  Him  with  love  divine — 

With  a  love  that  is  true  and  scatheless, 
For  it  is  not  ours,  but  Thine. 


THE    DIVINK    L0V1  121 

Thy  love  from  our  hearts  outflowing, 

Its  source  in  the  Heavens  above, 
That  love  of  Thine  own  bestowing 
Eternal  love. 

O  God,  with  Thy  love  we  love  Him, 
And  thus  are  our  praises  sweet, 

A  fragrance  that  fills  the  heavens, 
As  we  fall  before  His  feet. 

Our  God,  of  Thine  own  we  give  Thee, 
And  Thine  is  the  golden  store— 

What  are  we  that  we  thus  can  offer, 
Can  thus  adore  I 

Our  heart  and  our  flesh  may  fail  us, 

And  the  mists  of  sin  may  rise  ; 
They  may  hide  the  land  of  the  glory 

From  our  faithless  wandering  eyes  ; 
But  the  Spirit  within  us  fails  not 

For  ever  to  tell  of  Him ; 
And  His  Face  is  seen  in  its  beauty 
When  all  is  dim. 

In  the  dungeons  and  in  the  deserts 
Have  Thy  saints  by  the  world  despised, 

With  joy  untold  and  unmeasured, 
Looked  on  the  Face  of  Christ. 


122  THE    DIYINE    LOVE 

In  the  torture  or  in  the  fire, 

'Midst  the  scorn  and  the  hate  of  men, 
They  have  seen  but  the  light  of  His  presence 
Around  them  then. 

O  Lord,  we  adore  and  we  bless  Thee, 
That  we  in  Thy  hands  of  might 

Are  the  chords  whereupon  Thou  makest 
The  music  of  Thy  delight ; 

Whereon  Thou  wilt  sound  for  ever 
In  wondrous  and  glorious  tone, 

The  name  of  Thy  Son  beloved 
His  name  alone. 

What  recks  it  that  cold  and  worthless 
And  wayworn  my  heart  may  be, 

If  the  love  that  came  down  from  heaven 
Flows  back  to  the  Lord  from  me  ? 

A  glorious  tide  of  worship, 

Unsilenced  by  sin  and  by  death, 

Sweet  melody  made  in  the  cornet, 
By  God's  own  breath. 

T.  P. 


THE    EVANGELIST  1 23 

THE  EVANGELIST 
John  xvii.  18. 

From  the  brightness  of  the  glory, 

"  Go  ye  forth/'  He  said ; 
"  Heal  the  sick  and  cleanse  the  lepers, 

Raise  the  dead. 
Freely  give  I  thee  the  treasure, 

Freely  give  the  same ; 
Take  no  store  of  gold  or  silver — 
Take  My  Name. 

"  Carry  neither  scrip  nor  raiment, 

Neither  shoes  nor  staves ; 
Walk  unburdened  through  the  deserts, 

O'er  the  waves. 
Thou  art  fitted  for  the  journey, 

Howso  long  i%  be ; 
Thou  shalt  come,  unworn,  unwearied, 
Back  to  Me. 

"  Thou  shalt  tell  Me  in  the  glory 

All  that  thou  hast  done, 
Setting  forth  alone  ;  returning 
Not  alone. 


124  THE    EVANGELIST 

Thou  shalt  bring  the  ransomed  with  thee, 

They  with  songs  shall  come 
As  the  golden  sheaves  of  harvest, 
Gathered  home.,, 

Then  I  went  as  He  had  told  me— 

He,  the  Lord  in  heaven  ; 
Went  in  power  of  the  Spirit 

He  had  given. 
And  the  sick  arose  rejoicing, 

Bore  away  their  bed ; 
And  in  might  of  life  eternal 
Rose  the  dead. 

And  a  light  beyond  the  sunlight 

Did  the  blind  man  see ; 
Loud  and  sweet  the  dumb  sang  praises, 

Lord,  to  Thee. 
And  the  leper  from  his  exile 

Came  Thy  grace  to  own, 
Falling  low  in  rapturous  worship 
At  the  throne — 

Where  He  sitteth,  working  wonders, 

High  at  God  s  right  hand, 
More  than  when  an  outcast  stranger 
In  the  land. 


THE    EVANGELIST  12$ 

From  the  throne  in  heaven  speaks  He — 

Speaks,  and  it  is  done ; 
Thus  does  God  delight  to  honour 
Christ,  His  Son. 

Thus  with  instruments  of  music 

Do  His  servants  stand, 
Harp  and  lute  the  King  has  fashioned 

With  His  hand. 
And  "  the  music  of  Jehovah"  * 

Sounds  from  every  chord  ; 
He  who  makes  that  glorious  music 
Is  the  Lord. 

He  by  them  tells  forth  God's  praises 

To  the  ears  of  men, 
And  to  God  His  praise  ascendeth 

Yet  again. 
He  alone,  the  Mighty  Preacher, 

Gathering  in  His  own. 
And  the  praise  to  God  returning, 

His  alone.  t.  p. 

*  a  Chron.  ?ii  6. 


126  A    LIGHT   TO    LIGHTEN    THE   GENTILES 


A   LIGHT   TO  LIGHTEN   THE 
GENTILES 

2  Sam.  xv.  19-22  ;  John  xii.  26. 

"Wherefore  goest  thou  with  me  ?" 

Said  the  king  disowned— 
Said  the  king  despised,  rejected, 
Disenthroned. 

"  Go,  return  unto  thy  place, 

To  thy  king  of  yore — 
Here  a  pilgrim  and  a  stranger, 
Nothing  more. 

"  Not  for  thee  the  cities  fair, 

Hills  of  corn  and  wine — 
All  was  portioned  ere  thou  earnest, 
Nought  is  thine. 

"  Wandering  forth  where'er  I  may, 

Exiled  from  mine  own, 
Shame,  rejection  I  can  grant  thee ; 
That  alone 


A    LIGHT   TO   LIGHTEN    THE   GENTILES  \2^ 

"  Turn  and  take  thy  brethren  back, 

With  thy  people  dwell ; 
I  have  loved  thee,  I,  the  outcast ; 
Fare  thee  well." 

Then  unto  the  crownless  king 

On  the  Kedron's  shore, 
All  the  wilderness  before  him, 
Ittai  swore, 

"  As  the  Lord  lives  and  the  king, 

Ever  lord  to  me, 
Where  in  death  or  life  he  dwelleth 
I  will  be." 

"  Go — pass  over  ;"  spake  the  king; 

Then  passed  Ittai  o'er  ; 
Passed  into  the  place  of  exile 
From  the  shore. 

He  and  all  his  little  ones, 
Granted  by  that  word, 
Shame,  rejection,  homeless  wandering 
With  their  lord. 

"  Go — pass  over ; "  words  of  grace, 

Spoken,  Lord,  to  me, 
That,  in  death  or  life,  where  Thou  art 
I  might  be. 


128  A    LIGHT   TO    LIGHTEN    THE   GENTILES 

Dead  and  crucified  with  Thee, 

Passed  beyond  my  doom  ; 
Sin  and  law  for  ever  silenced 
In  Thy  tomb. 

Passed  beyond  the  mighty  curse, 

Dead,  from  sin  set  free ; 
Not  for  Thee  earth's  joy  and  music. 
Not  for  me. 

Dead  ;  the  sinner  past  and  gone, 

Not  the  sin  alone ; 
Living,  where  Thou  art  in  glory, 
On  the  throne. 

Hidden  there  with  Christ  in  God, 

That  blest  life  I  share ; 
Christ  it  is  who  liveth  in  me — 
Liveth  there. 

"  He  who  serves  Me,"  spake  His  lips, 

"  Let  him  follow  Me, 
And  where  I  am  shall  My  servant 
Ever  be." 

Follow,  where  His  steps  lead  on, 

Through  the  golden  street ; 
Far  into  the  depths  of  glory 
Track  His  feet. 


THK    LAST    KNOCK  1 29 

Till  unto  the  throne  of  God, 

Of  the  Lamb,  I  come  ; 
There  to  share  the  blessed  welcome, 
Welcome  home ! 

There  with  Him  whom  man  rejected 

In  the  light  above, 
Those  whom  God  His  Father  honours 
Such  His  love.  p.  g. 


THE  LAST  KNOCK 
Matt.  xi.  28. 

Art  thou  weary,  sad,  and  lonely, 

All  thy  summer  past  ? 
One  remaineth,  and  One  only — 

Hear  His  Voice  at  last. 

Voice  that  called  thee  all  unheeded, 
Love  that  knocked  in  vain ; 

Now,  forsaken,  dost  thou  need  it  ? 
Hear  that  Voice  again. 

u  Open  to  Me,  my  beloved, 

I  have  waited  long, 
Till  the  night  fell  on  the  glory, 

Silence  on  the  song ; 


130  THE   LAST   KNOCK 

"  Till  the  brightness  and  the  sweetness, 

And  the  smiles  were  fled, 
Till  thy  heart  was  worn  and  broken — 

Till  thy  love  was  dead. 

"  Thou  wouldst  none  of  Me,  beloved, 

Yet  beloved  wert  thou  ; 
Thou  didst  scorn  Me  in  the  sunshine, 

Wilt  thou  have  Me  now  ? 

"  Soul,  for  thee  I  left  My  glory, 

Bore  the  curse  of  God- 
Wept  for  thee  with  bitterest  weeping, 

Agony  and  blood. 

"  Soul,  for  thee  I  died  dishonoured, 

As  a  felon  dies ; 
For  thou  wert  the  pearl  all  priceless 

In  thy  Saviour's  eyes. 

"  Soul,  for  thee  I  rose  victorious, 

Glad  that  thou  wert  free ; 
Entered  Heaven  in  triumph  glorious — - 

Heaven  I  won  for  thee. 

"  Soul,  from  Heaven  I  speak  to  woo  thee- 

Thee,  the  lost,  the  lone ; 
Earth  may  fail  thee,  sin  undo  thee, 

All  the  more  Mine  own. 


"THY   FOOTSTEPS    ARE   NOT    KNOWN"  131 

"  Sorrow,  sin,  and  desolation, 

These  thy  claim  to  Me  ; 
Love  that  won  thee  full  salvation, 

This  My  claim  to  thee. 

"  Soul,  I  knock,  I  stand  beseeching, 

Turn  me  not  away ; 
Heart  that  craves  thee,  love  that  needs 
thee — 

Wilt  thou  say  Me  nay  ? u 

Y.  M. 


THY  FOOTSTEPS  ARE  NOT  KNOWN" 

Job  xxviii. 

O  path  which  no  eagle  knoweth, 
No  vulture's  eye  hath  seen, 

Where  never  the  lion  goeth, 

Nor  the  fierce  lion's  track  hath  been ; 

Not  in  the  land  of  the  living 
That  wondrous  path  is  known, 

But  Death  and  Destruction  know  it, 
Path  trodden  by  One  alone* 


132        "thy  footsteps  are  not  known'1 

Path  of  the  lonely  sorrow, 

Path  of  the  Lamb  who  died, 
Path  from  the  grave  to  the  glory — 

No  other  path  beside. 

Into  the  golden  Chamber, 

Into  the  secret  place, 
Paul  by  that  pathway  entered, 

Saw  the  beloved  Face — 

Heard  from  His  lips  the  wonders 

Not  to  be  told  again — 
The  mystery  and  the  glory, 

That  are  wordless  unto  men. 

But  of  the  cross  and  the  sorrow, 
The  curse  and  the  shame  he  told, 

The  path  to  the  secret  chamber 
Of  the  cedar  and  the  gold. 

Were  I  with  the  trespass  laden, 
Of  a  thousand  worlds  beside, 

Yet  by  that  path  I  enter, 

The  Blood  of  the  Lamb  who  died. 

From  the  depths  of  the  doom  and  darkness 
Ascends  that  wondrous  road, 

Which  leads  the  heart  of  the  sinner 
Up  to  the  heart  of  God. 


THE   JOY    THAT    WAS    SET    BEFORE    HIM  1 33 

For  from  heights  of  the  golden  city 

He  made  the  glorious  road, 
Which  leads  to  the  heart  of  the  sinner 

Down  from  the  heart  of  God ; 

Down  from  the  heights  of  the  glory, 
Down  from  the  love  and  the  kiss, 

The  joy  of  the  music  and  singing, 
The  endless,  unspeakable  bliss. 

(From  a  MS.  of  the  earlier  part  of 
the  14th  Century.) 


THE  JOY  THAT  WAS  SET  BEFORE 
HIM 

1  Tim.  i.  15. 

From  the  palace  of  His  glory, 
From  the  radiance  and  the  rest, 

Came  the  Son  of  God  to  seek  me, 
Bear  me  home  upon  His  breast. 

There  from  that  eternal  brightness 
Did  His  thoughts  flow  forth  to  me— 

He  in  His  great  love  would  have  me 
Ever  there  with  Him  to  be. 


134  THE   JOY    THAT    WAS   SET    BEFORE    HIM 

Far  away,  undone,  forsaken, 
Not  for  Him  my  heart  was  sore ; 

But  for  need  and  bitter  hunger- 
Christ  desired  I  nevermore. 

Could  it  be  that  in  the  glory, 

Ere  of  Him  I  had  a  thought, 
He  was  yearning  o'er  the  lost  one, 

Whom  His  precious  Blood  had  bought  ? 

That  it  was  His  need  that  brought  Him 

Down  to  the  accursed  tree, 
Deeper  than  His  deep  compassion, 

Wondrous  thought !  His  need  of  me. 

Trembling,  I  had  hoped  for  mercy, 
Some  low  place  within  his  door — 

But  the  crown,  the  throne,  the  mansion, 
He  made  ready  long  before. 

And  in  dim  and  distant  ages, 

In  those  courts  so  bright  and  fair, 

Ere  I  was,  was  He  rejoicing, 
All  He  won,  with  me  to  share. 

T.  p. 


CHILDHOOD  I  3  J 


CHILDHOOD 
Mark  x.  13,  16. 

Soul,  journeying  through  the  desert  wild, 
Couldst  thou  become  a  little  child, 
Thou  wouldst  behold  with  joyful  eyes 
God  walking  in  His  Paradise. 

A  little  child,  submissive,  still, 
That  knoweth  not  it  hath  a  will — 
What  mother  gives,  it  simply  takes, 
And  sweetly  sleeps,  and  laughing  wakes. 

If  taken  up,  or  laid  to  rest, 
All  comes  to  it  as  it  were  best ; 
If  all  forget  it  for  a  while, 
It  has  no  language  but  a  smile. 

To  it  alike  are  praise  or  blame, 
Alike  a  king's  or  peasant's  name — 
A  thing  so  weak,  so  poor,  so  small, 
Yet  fearing  nought  that  may  befall. 

How  true  and  innocent  its  eyes ! 
And  simply  trusting,  it  is  wise. 
It  reasons  not,  nor  looks  before, 
The  present  moment  all  its  store. 


1 36  CHILDHOOD 

It  cannot  walk,  nor  stand  alone, 
And  nothing  doth  it  call  its  own — 
It  knows  no  dangers,  no  alarms, 
Safe  sheltered  in  its  mothers  arms. 

Of  learnM  lore,  and  tangled  thought, 
And  questions  deep,  it  knoweth  nought, 
And  void  of  wonder  or  surprise, 
It  watches  all  with  sunny  eyes. 

It  has  its  little  joy  and  bliss, 

Its  mother's  arms,  its  mothers  kiss- — 

Her  face  is  ever  its  delight, 

Its  comfort  sweet  by  day  and  night. 

Blest  innocence  of  childish  days  I 
So  unto  me  are  Wisdoms  ways ; 
A  love  divinely  deep  and  high — 
Oh  would  that  such  a  child  were  1 1 

The  life  of  God  in  me  begun, 
Filled  with  the  Spirit  of  His  Son, 
In  childhood  of  the  life  divine, 
Untroubled  trust  and  gladness  mine. 

Whilst  yet  through  desert  wilds  I  roam, 
A  child  in  the  eternal  Home ; 
Beholding  now,  with  joyful  eyes, 
God  walking  in  His  Paradise. 

g.  t.  s. 


THE    CLOVEN    ROCK  1 37 


THE  CLOVEN  ROCK 
Is.  xxxii.  2. 

In  the  great  and  terrible  wilderness 

I  wandered  in  thirst  and  dread ; 
The  burning  sands  were  beneath  my  feet, 

And  the  fierce  glow  overhead. 
The  fiery  serpents  and  scorpions  dire 

Dwelt  in  that  lonely  land, 
And  around  and  afar,  as  a  glimmering  sea, 

The  shadowless,  trackless  sand. 

Then  came  a  day  in  my  journey  drear 

When  I  sank  on  the  weary  road, 
And  there  fell  a  shadow  across  the  waste — 

The  shade  of  the  wings  of  God. 
The  shadow  solemn,  and  dark,  and  still, 

Lay  cool  on  the  purple  sand ; 
The  shadow  deep  of  a  mighty  Rock 

In  a  weary,  thirsty  land. 

Of  old  from  Heaven  the  thunder  fell, 
And  that  mighty  Rock  was  riven, 

And  a  river  of  water  flowed  down  to  me — 
A  stream  of  the  rain  of  Heaven. 


138  THE    CLOVEN    ROCK 

And  the  Hand  that  reft  with  the  thunder 
dread 

The  Rock  of  the  Ages  hoar, 
Down  to  my  lips  the  waters  led, 

And  I  thirsted  nevermore. 

For  out  of  the  great  eternal  deep 
Those  glorious  waters  flowed ; 
They  flowed  from  the  fathomless  depths  of 

joy, 

They  flowed  from  the  Heart  of  God. 
From  the  depths  of  the  tenderness  all  un 
known, 

That  passeth  knowledge,  they  flow ; 
I  know  it  as  ages  of  bliss  roll  on, 

Yet  I  never  shall  say,  "  I  know/' 

And  there,  before  the  Rock  that  was  riven, 

At  the  feet  of  the  Lord  who  died, 
I  drink  of  the  depths  of  the  love  of  Heaven, 

The  mighty,  exhaustless  tide. 
"  Drink,  drink  abundantly,  0  beloved ! 

I  was  smitten,  accursed  for  thee." 
0  lips  as  lilies,  O  mouth  most  sweet, 

That  tell  Thy  heart  to  me ! 

c.  p.  c. 


SLEEPING    AND    WAKING  139 

SLEEPING  AND  WAKING 
Is.  xxvi.  19. 

We    slept — a   sleep   of  death,    and   yet   of 

dreams, 
Fair  dreams  that  pass,  and  sad  dreams  that 

abide, 
Where   yearneth   to  the   sound   of  distant 

streams 

The  soul  unsatisfied. 

We  woke — but  oh  for  speech  of  that  fair  land 
Wherein  the  soul  awake th,  to  declare 
The  wonders  that  no  heart  can  understand, 
That  hath  not  entered  there. 

For  there  the  light  that  is  not  sun  nor  moon? 
That  glows  as  morning,  and  as  eve  is  sweet, 
And  hath  the  glory  of  eternal  noon, 
Doth  guide  the  joyful  feet. 

And  there  the  streams    are    no    more   far 

away, 
And  there  the  thirsty  lips  drink  deep  at  last, 
Remembering  no  more  the  sultry  day, 
The  desert  that  is  passed, 


140  THE    SECRET    OF  HIS    PAVILION 

And  there  the  silence  is  the  tenderness 
Of  love  that  rests  rejoicing  in  His  own ; 
And  there  the  lips  are  hallowed  with  His  kiss 
To  speak  of  Him  alone. 

Of  none  but  Him — for  there  is  Christ  alone, 
The  radiance,  and  the  river,  and  the  psalm — 
The  music  and  the  gladness  of  His  own  ; 
The  everlasting  calm. 

The  secret  place,  the  Refuge  from  the  blast, 
The  glorious  Temple,  Lamb  of  God  art  Thou  ; 
Our  feet  shall  tread  the  golden  courts  at  last, 
Our  souls  have  entered  now. 

Awakened  1  to  behold  Thee  face  to  face, 
Henceforward  and  for  ever  drawn  apart 
To  learn  of  Thee  within  Thy  holy  place 

The  secret  of  Thine  Heart.      c.  p.  c. 


THE  SECRET  OF  HIS  PA  VI LION 
Hos.  ii.  14. 

Allured  into  the  desert,  with  God  alone, 

apart, 
There  spirit  meeteth  spirit,  there  speaketh 

heart  to  heart. 


THE   SECRET   OF    HIS    PAVILION  14 1 

Far,   far   on    that    untrodden   shore,   God's 

secret  place  I  find, 
Alone  I  pass  the  golden  door,  the  dearest 

left  behind. 

There  God  and  I — none  other ;  oh  far  from 

men  to  be ! 
Nay,  midst  the  crowd  and  tumult,  still,  Lord, 

alone  with  Thee. 
Still  folded  close  upon  Thy  breast,  in  field, 

and  mart,  and  street, 
Untroubled  in  that  perfect  rest,  that  isolation 

sweet. 

O  God,  Thou  art  far  other  than  men  have 

dreamed  and  taught, 
Unspoken  in  all  language,  unpictured  in  all 

thought. 
Thou   God   art  God — he   only  learns  what 

that  great  Name  must  be, 
Whose   raptured   heart   within   him   burns, 

because  he  walks  with  Thee. 

Stilled   by   that   wondrous    Presence,   that 

tenderest  embrace, 
The  years  of  longing  over,  do  we  behold  Thy 

Face ; 


142  THE   GOSPEL    ACCORDING   TO    PAUL 

We  seek  no  more  than  Thou  hast  given,  we 

ask  no  vision  fair, 
Thy  precious  Blood  has  opened  Heaven,  and 

we  have  found  Thee  there. 

O  weary  souls,  draw  near  Him  ;  to  you  I  can 

but  bring 
One  drop  of  that  great  ocean,  one  blossom 

of  that  spring ; 
Sealed  with  His  kiss,  my  lips  are  dumb,  my 

soul  with  awe  is  still ; 
Let  him  that  is  athirst  but  come,  and  freely 

drink  his  fill.  a.  t.  s. 


THE  GOSPEL  ACCORDING  TO  PAUL 

Acts  xxvi.  16. 

From  the  glory  and  the  gladness, 

From  His  secret  place  ; 
From  the  rapture  of  His  Presence 

From  the  radiance  of  His  Face — 

Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  hath  sent  me 
Through  the  midnight  lands ; 

Mine  the  mighty  ordination 
Of  the  piercdd  Hands. 


THE   GOSPEL    ACCORDING   TO    PAUL  143 

Mine  the  message  grand  and  glorious 
Strange  unsealed  surprise — 

That  the  goal  is  God's  Beloved, 
Christ  in  Paradise. 

Hear  me,  weary  men  and  women, 

Sinners  dead  in  sin  ; 
I  am  come  from  heaven  to  tell  you 

Of  the  love  within  ; 

Not  alone  of  God's  great  pathway 

Leading  up  to  heaven ; 
Not  alone  how  you  may  enter 

Stainless  and  forgiven — 

Not  alone  of  rest  and  gladness 

Tears  and  sighing  fled — 
Not  alone  of  life  eternal 

Breathed  into  the  dead — 

But  I  tell  you  I  have  seen  Him, 

God's  beloved  Son, 
From  His  lips  have  learnt  the  mystery 

He  and  His  are  one. 

There,  as  knit  into  the  body 

Every  joint  and  limb, 
We,  His  ransomed,  His  beloved, 

We  are  one  with  Him, 


144  THE   SONG   OF   CHRIST 

All  in  marvellous  completeness 

Added  to  the  Lord, 
There  to  be  His  crown  of  glory, 

His  supreme  reward. 

Wondrous  prize  of  our  high  calling  1 

Speed  we  on  to  this, 
Past  the  cities  of  the  angels 

Farther  into  bliss ; 

On  into  the  depths  eternal 

Of  the  love  and  song, 
Where  in  God  the  Father's  glory 

Christ  has  waited  long ; 

There  to  find  that  none  beside  Him 

God's  delight  can  be — 
Not  beside  Him,  nay,  but  in  Him, 

o  beloved  are  we. 

0.  P.  0 


THE  SONG  OF  CHRIST 
Heb.  ii.  12. 

There  sounds  a  glorious  music 

As  though  all  the  Heavens  rejoice ; 

There  is  One  who  singeth,  and  wondrous 
Is  the  gladness  of  His  voice. 


THE   SONG   OF   CHRIST  1 45 

A  joy  of  surpassing  sweetness, 

Of  love  no  speech  can  tell ; 
I  hear,  and  my  heart  is  broken, 

For  the  Voice  I  know  full  well. 

That  Voice  that  has  called  me  ever, 
Called  through  the  years  of  sin ; 

At  my  door  beseeching  and  knocking 
"  Let  Mb,  even  Me,  come  in/' 

And  now  in  His  joy  He  singeth, 

In  His  joy  He  singeth  of  me, 
And  all  the  Heavens  make  music 

That  the  gladness  of  God  they  see — 

"  He  was  dead — he  was  dead,  and  he  liveth, 
He  was  lost,  was  lost,  and  is  found  ! " 

This  is  the  song  He  singeth, 
The  marvellous  joyful  sound. 

Through  the  open  doors  of  Heaven 
Afar  through  the  starless  night, 

Is  borne  that  hymn  of  rejoicing, 
The  music  of  God's  delight. 

t.  s.  M. 


146  THE   SHEPHERDS    VOICB 


THE  SHEPHERDS  VOICE 
John  x.  27. 

No  other  voice  than  Thine  has  ever  spoken, 

0  Lord,  to  me — 
No  other  words  but  Thine  the  stillness  broken 

Of  life's  lone  sea. 
There  openeth  the  spirit's  silent  chamber 

No  other  hand — 
No  other  lips  can  speak  the  language  tender, 

Speech  of  the  Fatherland. 
For  others  speak  to  one  the  eye  beholdeth, 

Who  veils  the  soul  within — 
Some  know  not  all  the  joy,   and   all  the 
sorrow, 

And  none  know  all  the  sin. 
They   speak  to   one  they  love,   it  may  be 
blindly, 

Or  hate,  as  it  may  be. 
They  speak  but  to  the  shadow,  the  illusion  ; 

Thou  speakest,  Lord,  to  me. 
It  is  unto  the  sheep  the  Shepherd  calleth, 

His  voice  they  know, 


THE    WAYSIDE   FEAST  147 

No  voice  beside  can  lead  them  to  the  pastures 

Where  fountains  flow. 
None  other  tells  unto  my  soul  the  secret, 

The  mystery  divine — 
The  love  that  maketh  glad  the  inner  chambers, 

His  home  and  mine. 
And  therefore,  O  my  God,  with  full  assurance 

I  hear,  and  I  rejoice ; 
The  heart  of  Christ,  beyond  men's  thoughts 
and  dreamings, 

Told  in  His  voice.  t.  s.  m. 


THE  WAYSIDE  FEAST 

Ps.  xxiii.  5. 

Bread  that  earnest  down  from  Heaven, 

Fruit  of  the  eternal  tree ; 
Banquet  which  my  God  has  given 

Even  unto  me ; 
Lo,  before  the  world  that  scorneth, 

I  give  thanks  and  eat, 
At  the  table  in  the  desert, 

Spread  with  heavenly  meat ; 
Wine  of  the  divinest  gladness, 

Milk  and  honey  sweet. 


148  THE   WAYSIDE   FEAST 

In  the  wilderness  unwatered, 

In  the  lonely  land, 
This  the  feast  of  God  made  ready- 
By  His  mighty  Hand ; 
Thither  came  I,  spent  and  weary, 

Hungry  and  athirst, 
From  the  wastes  of  thorn  and  thistle 

Of  the  land  accursed, 
There  to  find  the  feast  where  angels 

Serve,  but  may  not  share — 
None  but  Christ  and  His  redeemed  ones 

Gathered  round  Him  there. 
There  the  desert  blossometh, 

There  the  waters  spring ; 
There  the  psalteries  make  music, 

There  the  blessed  sing. 
By  the  heavenly  banquet  strengthened, 

Short  the  way  to  me, 
Over  moor  and  fen  and  mountain, 

O'er  the  pathless  sea ; 
For  the  glory  of  His  City 

Shines  along  the  road 
Where  the  feet  unwearied  journey 

To  the  Home  of  God. 

a.  b. 


HIS   DWELLING-PLAOB  1 49 


HIS  DWELLING-PLACE 

Eph.  iii.  17. 

Thou  knewest  not  where  to  lay  Thy  head ; 

When  over  the  twilight  sea 
The  birds  of  the  mountains  homeward  sped, 

There  was  no  home  for  Thee. 

But  God  had  prepared  for  the  weary  feet 
A  home  when  the  toil  was  past, 

And  there,  in  His  chamber  still  and  sweet, 
0  Lord,  Thou  shouldst  rest  at  last. 

A  Home  to  be  won  by  deadly  fight, 
The  price  to  be  paid  in  blood — 

Oh  where  is  that  palace  of  fair  delight, 
That  glorious  Home  of  God  ? 

The  City  that  hath  foundations  shone 

To  Abram's  eyes  of  old, 
And  we  in  our  pilgrimage  days  look  on 

To  the  towers  of  crystal  gold. 

And  Thou,  an  outcast  in  Abram's  land, 
On  the  midnight  mountains  lone, 

Didst  look  to  the   Home   where  Thy  feet 
should  stand 
When  the  long  day's  work  was  dona 


150  A    SONG 

O  mystery  of  God's  wondrous  grace 
That  at  last  that  rest  should  be 

That  secret  chamber,  that  holy  place, 
The  soul  Thou  hast  won  for  Thee. 

t.  s.  M. 


A    SONG 

John  xiii.  i. 

Jesus,  the  One  unchanging, 

Thy  love  I  know ; 
I  remember  the  Cross  and  the  passion 

Of  long  ago. 

Jesus,  Thy  love  unchanging, 

How  passing  sweet, 
When  I  shall  arise  with  singing, 

Thyself  to  meet ! 

Jesus  I  the  One  unchanging, 

That  love  of  yore, 
That  love  that  shall  be  my  gladness 

For  evermore — 

That  love  is  the  love  that  bears  me 

O'er  starless  deeps ; 
That  never  through  long  night  watches 

Slumbers  nor  sleeps — 


THE    END   OP   THE   JOURNEY  I  51 

That  filleth  the  lonely  chambers 

With  psalm  and  song, 
And  along  my  journey  guards  me, 

All,  all  along. 

Of  old  on  the  Cross  not  deeper 

Than  now  it  is  deep — 
Not  sweeter  in  innermost  Heaven 

Than  whilst  I  weep. 

Nor  less  whilst  I  traverse  the  desert 

In  pilgrim  guise, 
Than  when  white  and  radiant  before  Thee 

In  Paradise.  g.  p.  g. 


THE  END  OF  THE  JOURNEY 
i  Con.  vi.  17. 

One  with  Christ — within  the  golden  City 

Welcomed  long  ago, 
When  for  me  He  passed  within  the  glory 

From  the  depths  below. 

Still  the  gladness  of  that  blessed  welcome, 

Mystery  of  that  kiss, 
Meeting  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Father, 

Floods  my  soul  with  blisg, 


152  THE    END   OF   THE   JOURNEY 

That  sweet  welcome  mine — and  mine  for  ever 

That  eternal  Home, 
Whereunto  when  all  these  wanderings  over, 

I  shall  surely  come — 

There  my  heart  is  resting,  and  is  joyful, 

With  a  joy  untold — 
Earth's  dark  ways  lit  up  with  that  fair  glory, 

Gleam  as  streets  of  gold. 

Words  of  blessed  greeting  as  I  wander 

Fall  upon  my  ear ; 
As  a  song  aloft  in  palace  towers, 

Deep,  and  sweet,  and  clear, 

In  the  midnight  steals  o'er  him  who  saileth 

On  a  lonely  sea, 
Then  I  know  I  near  the  blessed  country 

Where  He  waits  for  me. 

God,  my  Father,  waiteth  there  to  greet  me, 

Child  of  His  delight ; 
In  the  well-beloved  Son  presented 

Faultless  in  His  sight. 

Loved  with  all  the  love  that  fills  the  heavens 

With  eternal  song — 
Weep  not,  weary  heart — how  short  the  sorrow, 

And  the  love  how  long !  o.  p.  o. 


JKSU8  I  5  3 

JESUS 
Rev.  ii.  28. 

O  Name,  the  psalm  and  the  music 
That  fills  the  heavenly  place — 

O  Name  by  which  there  I  enter 
And  see  Thee  face  to  face — 

0  Name,  Thou  art  here  the  music, 
And  here  the  sweetness  and  song, 

Though  the  sea  and  the  waves  are  roaring, 
And  though  the  night  is  long. 

The  night — but  a  night  of  glory, 
For  there  in  the  heavens  I  see 

The  Morning  Star  in  its  brightness, 
Thy  gift  of  love  to  me. 

1  have  the  pledge  of  the  dawning, 

The  glow  of  the  golden  Day, 
For  Thou,  O  my  Lord,  hast  arisen, 
The  guide  Star  of  my  way. 

The  light  of  the  Star  outshining 

The  myriad  suns  is  mine — 
Oh  sure  is  the  glorious  morning, 

The  morn  of  joy  divine  ; 


154  THE    LAST    WATCH    OF    THE   NIGHT 

Of  joy  and  of  gladness  and  singing, 
When  deep  unto  deep  shall  call ; 

The  sweetness  shall  answer  the  sorrow, 
The  vinegar  and  the  gall ; 

The  depth  of  the  glorious  music 

The  depth  of  the  bitter  cry 
Of  him  in  the  darkness  abandoned, 

Unsolaced,  alone,  to  die. 

To  the  blackness  of  darkness  shall  answer 

The  light  as  a  jasper  stone, 
The  rainbow  of  glory  encircling 

Christ  on  His  radiant  throne. 

c.  p.  o. 


THE  LAST  WATCH   OF  THE  NIGHT 
Rev,  xix.  7. 

It  ends — the  vigil  of  high  festival, 

The  solemn  night  of  song  ; 
For  lo  !  the  crimson  day  has  lit  the  hiUs, 

The  day  desired  so  long. 


THE   LAST    WATCH    OF   THE    NIGHT  155 

From  peak  to  peak  there  spreads  the  jasper 
glow, 
The  morning  star  grows  dim  ; 
How  passing  strange  the  joy  that  now  we 
know — 
So  soon  to  look  on  Him ! 

Oh,  deeper  than  our  longing  and  our  love, 

More  wondrous  than  our  bliss, 
His  love  that  waited  while  the  ages  rolled 

To  welcome  us  as  His ! 

And  now,  the  watching  and  the  waiting  o'er, 

The  sin  and  sadness  passed, 
Behold,  within  the  palaces  of  gold, 

The  harps  are  strung  at  last ! 

"  The  Bridegroom  from  His  chamber  goeth 
forth, 

Resplendent  as  the  sun  ; 
O  Bride,  arise,  and  put  thy  jewels  on, 

The  desert  journey  done." 

Thus  do  the  morning  stars  together  sing, 

Our  shout  of  joy  replies; 
For  lo !  He  cometh  as  the  solemn  dawn 

Awakes  the  silent  skies. 


156  CITIZENS    OF    HEAVEN 

The  joy  of  God's  high  city  peals  afar, 

Through  portals  open  wide  ; 
All   Heaven    awaits   the   shining  marriage 

train, 
The  Bridegroom  and  the  Bride. 

o.  p.  o. 


CITIZENS  OF  HE  A  VEN 

i  Cor.  xv.  47,  48. 

Who  are  these  whose  faces  are  irradiate 

With  eternal  joy  ? 
With  the  calm  the  tempest  may  not  trouble 

Nor  the  grave  destroy  ? 

Glad  as  those  who  hear  a  glorious  singing 

From  the  golden  street, 
Moving  to  the  measure  of  the  music 

That  is  passing  sweet. 

They  have  been  within  the  inner  chamber 

None  can  tread  beside, 
Where  the  Bridegroom  radiant  in  His  glory 

Waiteth  for  the  Bride. 


CITIZENS   OF   HEAVEN  157 

He  has  shown  them  in  those  many  mansions 

How  to  Him  is  given 
That  high  palace  of  surpassing  beauty, 

Holiest  in  Heaven. 

There  it  is  that  they  behold  His  radiance, 

There  His  love  they  know, 
Therefore  theirs  is  God's  eternal  gladness 

Whilst  they  walk  below. 

Therefore    tread    they   in    Earth's  darkest 
places, 

Through  all  grief  and  sin, 
For  they  know  the  home  that  waits  the  weary, 
Know  the  love  within. 

Therefore   sad    and    strange    to    them  the 
splendours 

Of  the  world  must  be, 
"  O  forgotten  and  rejected  Jesus, 

We  have  looked  on  Thee ! 

"  We  have  seen  Thee  in  the  Father's  glory, 

Shared  the  Father's  kiss ; 
Strange   henceforward    to    the    world    our 
sadness, 

Stranger  yet  our  bliss. 


158  CITIZENS    OF    HEAVEN 

"  Sadness  for  the  eyes  that  cannot  see  Thee, 

Whom  to  see  is  Heaven ; 
Bliss  that  flows  mysterious  as  the  River 

When  the  Rock  was  riven. 

"  Oh  might  some  sweet  song  Thy  lips  have 
taught  us, 

Some  glad  song  and  sweet, 
Guide   amidst   the   mists  and   through  the 
darkness 

Lost  ones  to  Thy  feet. 

"  Not  our  joy,  but  Thy  Divine  rejoicing 

Fills  that  palace  fair, 
For  the  wonder  past  our  heart's  conceiving 

Is  the  welcome  there." 

Is  it  strange  that  from  the  golden  chamber, 

From  the  secret  place, 
Come  they  forth  with  everlasting  radiance 

Of  His  glorious  Face  ? 

Telling  mysteries  that  to  babes  are  simple, 

Hidden  from  the  wise, 
Fragrant  with  the  odours  of  the  lilies 

Of  God's  Paradise  ? 


CITIZENS    OF    HEAVEN  I  59 

Changed — transformed  ;    for    ever   and   for 
ever; 

Thine  alone  to  be  ; 
Knowing  none  on  earth,  O  Lord,  beside  Thee, 

None  in  Heaven  but  Thee. 

o.  p.  o. 


f  HE  EWS>* 


Printed  in  Great  Britain  by  M'Farlane  &  Erskine,  Edinburgh 

PY38 


